Vernon Bar & Grill in Cedar Rapids
When Pam McGrew changed her restaurant over from The Golden Egg to Vernon Bar & Grill last November, her vision was to offer dinners and late night activity in a relaxed environment. She has accomplished both.
Located at 3025 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, Vernon Bar & Grill now offers a full bar, with bar seating; breakfast, lunch and dinner all available any time; and live comedy one Friday or Saturday a month at no extra charge.
One of the changes McGrew made to the menu is to add steak. From the 8-ounce top sirloin for $10.50, to the 8-ounce beef tenderloin filet or the 18-ounce Porterhouse for $23.99, McGrew says you can’t go wrong with any of these steaks. They also offer a 12-ounce rib eye for $13.99. Each is served with a vegetable, Texas toast and a choice of potato and side.
Other dinners include hamburger steak ($7.99), grilled chicken ($7.49), ham steak ($8.99), country fried steak ($7.69), apple cinnamon pork chop ($8.69), liver and onions ($7.85), fried chicken ($8.99), steak Alfredo ($10.99) or chicken Alfredo ($8.99).
Fish dinners run $8.69 for breaded cod to $8.99 for jumbo fried shrimp or smoked apple wood salmon.
Daily specials vary with consistent specials being Thursday’s all-you-can-eat spaghetti ($7.29 with Texas toast and soup or salad) and Friday’s all-you-can-eat fish fry ($7.99 with french fries, Texas toast and coleslaw) available during lunch or dinner. Weekday specials include a $3.99 breakfast special and a $4.99 lunch special.
Monday through Friday the Vernon Bar & Grill is open at 8 a.m. for breakfast; on Saturday and Sunday it is open at 7 a.m. Closing times vary, according to the crowd. Sundays they do close at 3 p.m., though.
McGrew says they are well known for their hand cut, homemade American fries, each serving cooked to order. She makes all the soups and chili and just started making homemade sweet rolls.
Pam’s son, Jeremy Ward, created a strawberry martini that has gone over well. Her daughter, Angie Ward, co-manages the restaurant with Jeremy.
Breakfasts are served with American fries and include breakfast sandwiches ($6.65), wraps ($6.65), country fried steak ($7.75), steak and eggs ($8.99), ship wreck ($6.25), and seven types of omelets in the $6.50 to $7.99 range that also come with your choice of toast or pancakes.
Sandwiches come with unlimited fries or choice of soup, salad, cottage cheese or coleslaw. Prices range from $5.25 for grilled cheese to $8.99 for a steak sandwich. You can also get a chicken quesadilla wrap ($6.99), fish sandwich or turkey cranberry melt ($6.80 each), breaded pork tenderloin ($7.75), gyros ($6.99), club wrap or sandwich ($7.10), Philly cheese ($7.65) or BLT ($6.25).
Burgers also come with unlimited fries and range from $6.50 to $7.99.
Appetizers, salads and desserts are available as well.
- By Amanda Morgan