Dining for $25 or less: Grill Art Cafe

Grill Art Cafe is Hampden's little restaurant that could. The early days at this handsome cafe were awfully rough, with service problems enduring well past the grace period most diners extend to a new restaurant. Grill Art has hung in there, though - going on five years now - and it's evolved into a very decent dining option. Operating out of the spotlight has probably helped, and hard work definitely hasn't hurt - Grill Art serves lunch, or brunch, and dinner seven days a week. My guess is that people started rediscovering Grill Art when their first choice on the Avenue was booked. If so, good for Grill Art for making its own luck.

By Richard Gorelick

September 4, 2008