Not a catfish fan? ...or don't know if you like catfish?
Trust us...go to Gramsky's and order the catfish, you'll never have to eat catfish elsewhere. This the best ever!! Go there on Taco Tuesday and you'll have to choose between catfish and the giant taco in the house deep-fried shell!
Wow...another and daughter restaurant---we have a certain fondness for that! Jeannette Nevilles and daughter Kersten (sp?, sorry) run a catering and 'sandwich' place on Edinburgh Drive in Brooklyn Park (north of 694 off 252..an easy drive from Shoreview). If you find Fat Nat's, you're very close---go around the corner of that mall and enter the next mall to the north (between the Asian and Cajun places).
Jeannette started her business at Kindred Kitchen...the incubator for so many budding chefs who bring their goodness to the public.
Now in Brooklyn Park for 2 years, Jeannette and her daughter have some killer menu items. First, you're greeted with free cookies (they have an in-house baker---do try any cake in the case). The menu suspended near the register lists croissant sandwich choices, hot grinder (you have to call the day before to get that), burgers, catfish or catfish & wings platter, pork tenderloin, tacos (beef, chicken, or catfish), patty melt and more.
James Norton of the Heavy Table visited & one of his companions said the catfish reminded him of his childhood in Iowa...taking home river catfish and frying it up that night...he described Jeannette's as "the best catfish he'd had in the last 38 years." It's really good.
Our serving of catfish was 2 giant portions---more than we could consume. Served with fries (they're fine--but who needs them when you have catfish) and a shiny crescent roll. Did I say it's really good?
John perused the menu over and over trying to decide...and finally settled on the patty melt (within a second he saw the $6.99 burger special & had a moment of Norwegian apoplexy--stick with the patty melt/change to the burger--it almost turned his hair white). I was hoping he'd opt for the croissant with the house-made basil sauce because I really, really, really wanted to try it.
John thoroughly enjoyed his patty melt...on grilled bread with red onion. We loved the bread, but the meat was the star. We rarely eat hamburgers. Feedlot cows just don't cut it. John was ready to shake down Jeannette for her meat source because it had that missing ingredient in most hamburgers...flavor.
This was a lucky day. Jeannette came over to our table to chat. I asked her about the basil sauce---she disappeared into the kitchen and gave some to John (close enough...my fork has a long reach...a little dollop for his patty melt and a big dollop for me : ).
With no room for dessert we grabbed a piece of German chocolate cake to bring home. Not to be skipped, the moist, rich cake with coconut and pecans was excellent.
Jeannette does a ton of catering. We're going to create our own event just to order from the catering-only menu---collards with ham hock, sweet potato custard, mac & cheese, baked chicken entree. This is reason enough for a party. Mason jar desserts are also on the catering-only menu--otherwise they're available during the summer on the every day menu.
Note: if you're going to Gramsky's, plan it one day ahead. Call them and order the hot Italian grinder (James Norton suggests that you show up at the appointed time, and you'll get a perfect, non-soggy hot sandwich) or try one of their special days, like Taco Tuesday.
A trip to Gramsky's to sample the unique and high-quality, made-from-scratch menu is well worth the effort. Their hard work and 60+ hour weeks deserve patronage...don't forget the tip jar!!
We'd give 'em 4 out of 5 stars for the quality and flavor of our meal today!
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