Down-home grill serves up diner and seafood staples

I drive by Carbon City Grill at least twice every weekday. The restaurant is on my way to and from work. After driving by it nearly 600 times, I decided it was time to check it out. 

When I arrived at Carbon City Grill (formerly Seafood Inlet) with my usual partner in crime, only one car was parked in front. The restaurant had opened a mere 45 minutes before Marshall and I drove up on a recent late Sunday morning.

The Atmosphere

A long porch with a metal roof runs along the entire front of the building. Birds have made homes in many of the iron pendant lights that hang 3 feet apart. I suspect all the activity near the entrance is why those particular lights were nest-free.

We were first greeted by the sound of “The Andy Griffith Show,” which was playing on a television mounted in the center of the restaurant. A restaurant employee said we could sit anywhere we wanted. The restaurant was empty except for a couple with two young children.

I don’t know if Carbon City Grill typically goes all out in decorating for all holidays but that was certainly the case with Easter. Pairs of rabbits adorned every table in the restaurant. Along the front windows were more bunnies, Easter eggs, and multicolored garland. 

The floor appeared to be the linoleum tiles I remember from elementary school in the 1970s. Sweet and uplifting phrases were stenciled on the walls. The tables and chairs were sturdy and clean but showed some wear.

The Service

Soon after we sat down, the person who initially greeted us introduced herself, placed two menus on the table, and asked if she could bring us something to drink.

We ordered tea, and that smart husband of mine asked if the sweet tea was really sweet. She said yes, so we asked for half sweet, half unsweet. She returned with a perfectly balanced glass of tea. 

We explained to Ashley that it was our first time in the restaurant and inquired about any house specialties or favorite dishes. She was quick with her recommendations.

She told us that many diners order something off the seafood section of the menu but then offered her favorites: Turkey Stack (deli-sliced turkey topped with sauteed peppers and onions, mushrooms, and pepper jack cheese, served with fries), Philly Steak (seasoned beef, sauteed peppers and onions and provolone cheese, served with fries), and Hamburger Steak (8-ounce chopped steak topped with your choice of sauteed peppers and onion or mushroom gravy, served with mashed potatoes and green beans). 

We told her we would need a few minutes. I have regretted those words in other dining experiences. The server would disappear for 20 minutes. Not Ashley. She gave us about three minutes and took our order, which was a shared appetizer and two meals. She also placed on the table a packet that included silverware, a straw, and napkins. 

She was efficient, friendly, and not overly intrusive. 

The Food

We ordered Cheese Stix for an appetizer. I had told Marshall just a day or so before that I hadn’t had mozzarella sticks in ages. The fried cheese arrived about six minutes after placing the order. Not only were the sticks hot, but so was the side of marinara, which was topped with melted cheese. In the past, I have been served sticks that were overcooked to the point the cheese was practically gone. Here the stretchy cheese was intact and tasty. The marinara had a slight sweetness that we both liked.

Our meals were hot, arriving 10 minutes after we ordered the appetizer. We had just enough time to enjoy the appetizer and chat for just a couple of minutes, and then our main dishes arrived. 

Marshall ordered the Reuben. Instead of the fries that normally accompany the sandwich, he upgraded to the Pub Chips. The chips were sprinkled with a dash of seasoning salt. The rye bread was grilled to just the right amount of crunch. A generous heaping of thin-sliced corned beef was topped with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. 

My fried shrimp platter came with fried shrimp, fries or baked potato (I chose the baked potato), slaw, and hush puppies. That dish had me at hushpuppies. At first bite, I gave the hushpuppies two thumbs up but on the second bite I discovered the very center could have been cooked just a tad more. Not raw batter, just needed a little more time. The slaw was a sweet, mayo-based one. A good basic slaw of finely shredded green cabbage (not big chunks) and finely grated carrots. Nothing remarkable but not bad either. The shrimp tasted fresh and I appreciated the light batter, even though the breading would slip off the crustacean sometimes. 

The Verdict

My husband summed up the experience succinctly: “I would come back.” I agreed with him.

I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t mention our disappointment in the restrooms. The restrooms were clean but could use updating. I had to lift up the door to get the barrel of the bolt lock to slide into the catch. Broken tile had been patched. According to Marshall, the urinal was “from the 1930s” and a car air freshener (the kind you might see hanging from a rearview mirror) hung on a nail. Again, everything was clean, which is the most important thing. 

You wouldn’t know by what I ordered, but I’m a relatively health-conscious eater. Much of the menu wouldn’t fall in that category, but Carbon City Grill does offer options with grilled chicken, as well as a veggie wrap. I will order one of those items next time. Well, unless I’m in a decadent mood. In that case, I’ll ask for the onion rings. 

Angela Kuper Copeland is managing editor of The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595 or via email at angela@thepaper.media.