Too tired to cook?

The fast pace of life sure takes its toll on us. There are those who would love to fuss in the kitchen and put out a full meal, but the time crunch makes it much easier to just stop at a restaurant. Here are some updates.

—Carol Smaglinski, photos by Mark Hancock, Shannon Cornman and Lindsey Cooper

$$: Up to $15

$$$: $15-$30

$$$$: Above $30


Chubby’s Chicken and Grill

7640 Northwest Expressway 577-6848

Those with a strong attachment to eating calf fries swing on by to sample several pairs, which come with a compatible cocktail sauce. These delicacies are also nicknamed Montana tender-groins and are among Chubby’s top-sellers. Its catfish is pretty delish, too, along with sides such as corn and coleslaw, which comes in a regular or a vinegar-based version. The gourmet potato salad also is in great demand.

$$ Grill


Geno’s Chophouse

113 Harrison, Guthrie 282-4482

Chef Geno McNeely and his wife, Lynn, have started serving an appealing brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Besides a carving station, look for a waffle, omelet and a dessert station. On Sunday, there is no ordering off the menu — just the buffet. “There’s no food like Geno’s,” Lynn McNeely said about her husband.

$$$ Steakhouse


The Lobby Bar

4322 N. Western 604-4650

Will’s Coffee Shop has passed on to restaurant heaven, so The Lobby Bar now fills the entire spot. Talented chef David Henry (pictured) is concentrating on some mouthwatering East-West dishes inspired by the cuisine of Vietnam and other Asian countries. Look for lettuce wraps in tofu or chicken, and its banh mi sandwiches are popular. Save room for the black sesame pot de crème.

$$$ Eclectic

La Salsa Grille 2329 N. Meridian

604-5419

For
many vegetarians, eating out can be frustrating and disappointing. Not
at La Salsa. Due to the demand for more vegetables on the menu, the
chefs have added tempting vegetable plates. Get this: Its vegetarian
fajita is done with broccoli, yellow squash, zucchini and mushrooms. A
spinach enchilada also was introduced.

$$ Mexican

Harvest Grill at Santa Fe harvest

6300 N. Santa Fe 840-1817

Want
a nice view of the city while you eat? This grill inside a fitness
center is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and has expanded its salad
bar by adding more items to the mix of usual suspects. Its patio is wide
open, too. Grill owner and former restaurant consultant Kevin Haygood
knows the “how”s and “why”s of the hospitality game, and it shows.

$$ Salads and more

The Stuffed Olive

12215 S. Pennsylvania 735-7593

Get
your iced sugar-cookie fix here, where menu items are made from
scratch. Soups are the trump card, and two to choose from are the cream
of mushroom and the low-calorie basil tomato. But call ahead, as those
soups-of-the-day do change. One sandwich is created with avocado, turkey
and Swiss with a chipotle mayo.

$$ American cafe

Red Raspberry Tea Room 12204 N.E. 23rd, Nicoma Park

769-1673

The
owner is now offering a new culinary discovery of a salad. A real
flight of fancy, it’s a baked apple salad done with a whole Gala apple
that is split, cored and baked with a center of brown sugar, cream
cheese and other secret ingredients, and then presented on a bed of
organic mixed greens. It may be ordered along with a turkey
half-sandwich.

$$ Tea room

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