Out to eat: Firehouse Grill

Chelsie Boland (left) and Alana Recalde show off the Cowboy Burger and the Chicken Firelight Salad in front of the fire engine next to the patio at Firehouse Grill. (Credit: Joseph Fuqua II | Metromix)

The atmosphere: Blue Ash resident Bob Davis had the goal of reviving a location that was known for good food and a good atmosphere and he’s done just that with the Firehouse Grill.

The former firefighter has created a modern, relaxing environment inside the restaurant that fits a family meal, a business lunch or a quiet date night.

In the parking lot, you are greeted by a large Warren County Career Center fire truck, which makes for quite the photo opportunity. On a recent Saturday evening, we watched a family with children enjoying time in the fire engine.

Once inside, a very open lobby isn’t too far from a monstrous, granite-topped bar. There are many high top tables as well as low tops and booths.

The outdoor patio could seat an entire fire station if needed, complete with a fireplace. If you’re in the mood to catch one of the big games, you’re in luck, the whole place has large flat screen TVs.

The night we were there, the Firehouse Grill was full of people enjoying a drink at the bar and a glimpse of the game as well as families catching up.

The food: Firehouse Grill doesn’t have your typical bar fare. It’s dinner menu, served after 4 p.m., has a lot of choices from salads to entrees such Mile High Meatloaf, gourmet pizzas and specialty burgers with names like Back Draft (very spicy with jalapeños and hot chili sauce) and The Cowboy (barbecue sauce and onion straws).

My date and I started the evening with an order of fried dill pickles, $6.99, panko-fried stackers with a side of buttermilk ranch sauce, and they were very good, still crisp even after being fried.

For an entrée I had the Blackfire Wrap, $8.99, a Jalapeno cheddar tortilla with Cajun chicken, carmelized onions, chipotle mayonnaise, Monterey Jack cheese, lettuce and tomatoes with a side of sweet potato fries for an extra $1.

This wrap had the right amount of heat to it, enough heat that I was downing my drinks. I couldn’t tell if it was the tortilla, the mayonnaise, the chicken or the combination of the three that gave it the heat but I couldn’t stop eating it.

My date decided to try a gourmet pizza and chose the West Coast ($9.99), which came piled high with artichokes, roasted red peppers, spinach, red onion and feta . It would have been enough for two people to share and the crust and flavors were spot on.

Since the main course was so great, we couldn’t pass up dessert. I choose the crème brulee ($4.99, and homemade the waiter said) while my date had the Vanilla Bean Cheesecake ($5.99). The crème brulee was a much larger serving than what I’m used too and the custard was smooth and tasty. The cheesecake was perfect.

The drinks: The draft beer list is rotating but usually includes Samuel Adams Seasonal, Stella Artois, Stone IPA, Yuengling, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Guinness and Mt. Caramel offerings. My date had a large Stella Artois on draft for $5.75.

As for wines, the restaurant has a large variety of whites and reds that range in price from $6-$11 a glass and $24-$36 a bottle. On Tuesdays, bottles are half price.

If you’re in the mood for a mixed drink try a Firehouse Cosmo or the Pomegranite Martini, which is what I had. ($7.95, $5 on Mondays). They were so good I ended up having two.

The verdict: The Firehouse grill is sure to light your fire whether for lunch or dinner or just to wind down after a long day for a drink and appetizer, it’s definitely worth checking out.