Highland Grill

Date visited: Friday, April 20

I actually visit the Highland Grill (771 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul; 651.690.1173) a lot. So much so that my friends exchange knowing looks when I suggest it, and it's the place I take almost every out-of-town visitor.

Why am I so obsessed with it? Because it's fairly close to my house, it's casual and the food is always awesome. Plus the menu is so wide-ranging, there's usually something for everyone.

I've eaten just about every vegetarian offering on the menu. Last night I tried the Eggplant Parmesan, and it didn't disappoint. Thin slices of eggplant were battered and fried, layered with fresh mozzarella and topped with a tasty tomato sauce -- no noodles necessary. A side salad rounded out the meal. This was truly a perfect meal because my dinner companion ordered the sweet potato fries with his burger, and he graciously offered to share them with me.

The sweet potato fries deserve their own paragraph. They're wonderful -- not too thick or two thin. There's usually not crunchy either, unless they get cooked a little to long, but they taste great either way. They come with some sort of aioli, which I'm not a fan of but everyone else who tries it seems to think it's the best thing ever.

My perfect meal at the Highland Grill is a veggie burger, which is served with roasted tomatoes, white bean spread and goat cheese. I always order it with the sweet potato fries.

I've also had the egg salad sandwich, which is solid and not overly exciting. I'm not a fan of the grilled cheese, but that's only because I can't fully embrace the tomato chutney that comes in it. The tomato chutney is the menu's most divisive item -- you will love it or you'll be absolutely disgusted by it. Most likely your server will warn you when you order the grilled cheese.

The portabella burger is wonderful. The squash and mushroom risotto is excellent (although sometimes a little on the oily side). I can also recommend the Balsamic Spinach Salad and the Goat Cheese Salad.

And then there's breakfast. I won't wax on about the breakfast, mainly because you must already get the picture that I like this place. Yes, the breakfast is good, too.