Lilly’s Kitchen Table (Facebook)
4008 Broadway (map it!)
Grove City, OH 43123
(614) 801-0771
Open daily 7a-2p
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y
Visited: Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.
Readers have been suggesting Lilly’s Kitchen Table in downtown Grove City for a couple years now, and I’m happy to say we finally made good on it. On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, we were looking to do some exploring (and to avoid football game traffic), so we took a stroll through the Grove City farmers market. It was our first time through that market; I love how it really highlights the main strip of Broadway with a line-up of street vendors.
After an hour or so of walking the market and picking up some pumpkins (yes, pumpkins already in August!), pies, veggies, and fruit, we headed in to Lilly’s for a late breakfast/early lunch. The restaurant was about half full, between the long row of booths and the tables scattered throughout. We were seated at a small table near the front windows. A quick glance at the menu showed us that it covers all of your bases: omelets, skillets, sweet carbs for breakfast; sandwiches, burgers, and subs for lunch. I love relying on servers to recommend specialties, and our server suggested Lilly’s Big Breakfast or Lilly’s Original – just what I had my eye on!
We’ve been to a lot of places recently, both traditional and funky, and Lilly’s struck us as one of those (sometimes rare) places where you get exactly what you expect. And there’s something nice about having your expectations met (I mean this in a good way). We wanted something simple, no frills, that both we and our kids would like, and Lilly’s delivered just that.
Our boys were starving, and we know a cinnamon roll is the quickest way to quiet the hungry masses. It was a good size and tasted nice, although the icing was a little separated.
Taking the server’s suggestion, I ordered Lilly’s Big Breakfast. A lot of times, when I go out for breakfast, this is just what I want: eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Given the option of hash browns to home fries, I will always pick hash browns. You just can’t beat the texture.
The Big Breakfast also satisfied my sweet tooth with a side of pancakes. These were a little gummy but the taste was spot-on and the size was appropriate as a side. I’d never be able to finish full size pancakes along with everything else.
I wanted a simple comfort breakfast, and I got it. Each element fit the bill: over easy eggs left runny enough, good bacon, and crispy (but not burnt) hash browns.
We tried a couple lunch items as well (surprise! we also eat lunch!), including the chicken salad sandwich with onion rings, which were seasoned nicely. The homemade chicken salad had a good flavor complemented by grapes, celery, and pecans.
Our boys were in the mood for some kids meal standards, like mac and cheese and applesauce. Lilly’s serves the basic boxed variety, but the kids dug into them with no problem.
Plus a plain hot dog with a toasted bun and side of canned oranges. Again very straightforward, but our boys didn’t hesitate to dive in.
Lilly’s met our expectations. We wanted simply prepared comfort food, and we got that. Our only real qualm was with the server, who was friendly but frequently disappeared, leaving us to wait a little longer than usual, and having to ask for our cinnamon roll when it never showed up. But the restaurant is very nicely situated in downtown Grove City, easy to find from the highway. You can always tell when a place serves as the diner hub for an area. Given Lilly’s consistent hours and menu, they serve as a good gathering spot if you’re in the area.
