page 16 Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Let’s Meet Your Pet Family
Feature them in our Pet Feature
Section to run in the April 7
edition of the Buyer’s Guide & News
Deadline is 5 pm on Wed., April 3105 N. Broadway, Lowell
897-
Guide ews
B
uyer’s
N
and
IN MEMORY OF MY KONA
She gave me joy and a smile each day!Price is $25 for a full color photo and
3 lines of copy (upto 25 words)
To submit your photos and what
you would like to say email:
Be sure to include your name and phone number.
Payments can be made by calling our office.
616-897-
IN MEMORY OF MADDIE
What a special girl! Couldn’t ask for a
better friend!Wild child puppy, Maizy, that
keeps me busy. She is always
next to me.We are looking for your fur babies,
your feathered friend, your goldfish,
reptile or your favorite farm animal...
Show your love for your pet!By Justin Tiemeyer
contributing writer
The number one rule
in real estate is location,
location, location, and the
Flat River Grill occupies
one of the most coveted
locations in downtown
Lowell. On the first floor of
the old Bergin building at
201 East Main Street, Flat
River Grill enjoys both the
foot traffic of Lowell’s main
drag and the magnificent
view of the Flat River,
along the city’s riverwalk.
Not only can diners enjoy
the latter from a four-
season patio, just a stone’s
throw from the Lowell
Showboat, but in 2022,
the restaurant assimilated
the space previously
occupied by Century Post
Pub, transforming it into
Tributary @ Flat River
Grill.
Location may be
everything when it comes
to real estate, but it can
only take you so far when
it comes to dining. To
become the centerpiece of
Lowell cuisine, as it seems
clear that Flat River Grill
Flat River Grill buttermilk fried chicken sandwich
is, there are a number of
other things to consider,
including dining experience,
atmosphere, and most of all,
flavor. Flat River Grill has
something for everyone,
from a view of ducks and
geese on the river for those
who like to sip a cocktail
while taking in some sun,to
the darker presentation on
the inside with antique-
looking filament light bulbs
on the walls and battery-
powered faux candles on
the tables. Throughout the
years, different menu items
have stolen the spotlight,
from delicious wood-
fired goat cheese pizza to
nuanced bruschetta with a
tasty vinaigrette, but today’s
entree of choice is none
other than the buttermilk
fried-chicken sandwich with
sweet potato fries.
Flat River Grill is
a Gilmore Collection
restaurant, joined by the
Bostwick Lake Inn in
Rockford, Mangiamo in
Eastown, and Rose’s in
East Grand Rapids, and this
appellation garners a certain
level of sophistication thata fried-chicken sandwich
typically does not. However,
this is not some flat, reheated
chicken patty. The chicken
is hand-battered and cooked
to perfection, not using a
delicious fry as an excuse
for an under-seasoned,
overcooked breast, and the
helping is huge. A satisfying
crunch issues from the thick
fried shell before you are
exposed to the juicy white
meat at the center. The
sandwich is topped with
lettuce, Roma tomatoes,
pickles, and Tabasco mayo
on a toasted brioche bun,
effortlessly satisfying the
fried-chicken sandwich holy
trinity of chicken, pickle,
and mayo.
Flat River Grill flips the
script when it comes to sweet
potato fries. Where most
restaurants feature thick-
cut fries that emphasize the
sweet, over the savory, Flat
River Grill presents thin-cut
crinkle fries whose crispy
fry and salty flavor bring out
the hidden savory taste in
the sweet potatoes. There is
a risk to swimming against
the stream (pun intended—when a restaurant is this close
to a river, it is incumbent
upon the reviewer to use
river analogies as much
as possible), especially if
a diner receives a poorly-
balanced batch of sweet
potato fries, with either
too much or too littlesalt, but Flat River Grill
expertly navigates between
Scylla and Charybdis (OK,
admitted, that nautical
reference may have gone
a bit too far) and delivers
a satisfactory sweet-potato
fry. Most fancy fries use
garlic aioli or a truffle-oil
dip as a crutch, but these
fries can shine on their own
or with something simple,
like Heinz Tomato Ketchup.
For those who have not
brought their appetite, Flat
River Grill can be a great
place for a drink. Happy
Hour is 3 pm to 6 pm, from
Tuesday through Friday, and
features $2 off draft beers, $
off well cocktails, and $4 off
house wines. Additionally,
every Wednesday, Flat
River Grill celebrates Wine
Down Wednesday by giving
diners half-off wine by the
glass, from open to close.
Considering the restaurant’s
extensive wine selection,
Wednesdays seem like a
great opportunity for wine
connoisseurs to enjoy their
favorite drinks at a discount,
and for those new to wine
drinking, to try a number of
different options in search of
a signature flavor. For best
results, order something
to eat, an appetizer, a side,
or an entree, and line-up a
designated driver, Uber, or
walk home.
As for events, the Flat
River Grill is a great place
to go for any Riverwalk- adjacent celebration.
During the Riverwalk
Festival, Flat River Grill
is the perfect place to sit
for a few moments after a
day full of walking, and an
even better place to people-
watch. During the Harvest
Celebration in October, the
same options are available,
though depending on the
weather, the open-air patio
may be insulated, and the
people-watching may be
accomplished through
plastic windows. Perhaps
the best time to enjoy a
show from Flat River Grill
is during the Showboat
Sizzlin’ Summer Concert
series, every Thursday night
throughout the summer.
While the on-stage antics
of bands like Prior Noon,
Magic Bus, and Patty
Pershayla & the Mayhaps
may not be easily visible,
the patio offers unfettered
access to the sounds
radiating from the stage.
Throw in an appetizer,
entree, or drink of choice,
and it becomes one of the
best ways to experience
downtown Lowell.
When it comes to
location, location, location,
Flat River Grill is the
centerpiece of Lowell
cuisine in a completely
different way. Because of its
proximity to so many of the
city’s amenities, it is possible
to park across the street
near the Lowell Veterans
Memorial, shop all day, and
conclude the evening with
a fried-chicken sandwich
before a well-deserved nap.
Other great options include
dinner and a city council
meeting, and perhaps the
best deal in town, dinner
and a good book, courtesy
of the Englehardt Library,
an absolute gem within
walking distance of Flat
River Grill. Just make
sure you wash your hands
between eating and reading.
Flat River Grill is
located at 201 East Main
Street in historic downtown
Lowell adjacent to the Flat
River and the riverwalk.
The restaurant is open
Monday through Thursday,
11:30 am to 9 pm, Friday
and Saturday, 11:30 am
to 10 pm, and Sunday,
11:30 am to 8 pm. Those
interested in enjoying Flat
River Grill’s delicious food
may do so, dine-in or to-go,
with options to order online
from thegilmorecollection.
com/flatrivergrill/togo/ or
by calling the restaurant at
616-897-8523.The buttermilk fried-chicken sandwich at Flat River Grill.