Jon and I don’t like chain restaurants. Luckily, Fort Wayne is blessed with a plethora of independent and locally owned restaurants to satisfy our need to get out and enjoy food that has been cooked for us. Recently, an exception to the chain restaurant boycott has emerged- Granite City. When my parents come to town, it has become tradition to pig out at the Sunday brunch- pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, omelets, fresh fruit, biscuits & gravy, prime rib and a “make your own bloody mary” bar. And Jon and I have been known to take a trip to the bar on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. We love sitting in one of the big booths and ordering 2 or 3 appetizers or meals to split. This weekend we tried the Honey Rosemary Tenderloin and Focaccia Salad and Pepper Bacon and Tomato Flatbread Pizza. My mouth is watering just thinking about these two dishes.

The Honey Rosemary Tenderloin and Focaccia Salad is amazing. It seems a bit counterintuitive to eat steak on a salad, but you simply have to try this.  Here’s the description from the menu: “A half-pound of fresh beef tenderloin marinated in honey, olive oil, soy sauce, chopped garlic, and fresh rosemary, then charbroiled to perfection. Hand sliced into bite-size pieces, then tossed in balsamic dressing with spring greens, freshly grilled herb focaccia croutons, Parmesan cheese, marinated balsamic tomato onion relish, and creamy bleu cheese crumbles.” Though a bit steep in price ($16.99), it was the perfect salad to split and accompany our flatbread pizza.

The Pepper Bacon and Tomato Flatbread Pizza offers the perfect combination of flavor and crunch. Okay, you can’t really go wrong with bacon, but this bacon has a hint of maple syrup flavor that balance the salty of the cheese and intensity of the fresh basil. The description from the menu: “A thin crispy crust brushed with roasted garlic aioli. Topped with maple pepper bacon, sliced Roma tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheeses. Finished with julienne fresh basil.”

View the full menu here.