EAT & DRINK DULUTH REVIEW - Grandma’s Saloon and Grill in Canal Park
Grandma’s Canal Park location is a Duluth staple, just a stone’s throw away from the Aerial Lift Bridge. Photo from Grandma's Restaurant Facebook Page
We're bringing you a Duluth classic for this edition of Eat & Drink Duluth: Grandma’s Saloon & Grill in Canal Park. The restaurant was established in 1976, making it positively middle-aged! As a long-term Duluth staple, Grandma’s remains well-known and well-loved by locals and tourists alike.
It has succeeded for many reasons: The Grandma’s menu is chock-full of yummy classics. The décor of the entire restaurant is steeped in history, with lots of old signs and other cool memorabilia. And its amazing location in the heart of Canal Park – just a stone’s throw from the Aerial Lift Bridge – certainly doesn’t hurt.
Please join us as we Eat & Drink Duluth – Grandma’s style!
History
Grandma’s was originally founded by local businessmen Andy Borg, Jr. and the late Mick Paulucci. It is now owned solely by Borg.
While Grandma’s Canal Park location came first, the Grandma’s “family” has grown to include:
- Grandma’s original location in Canal Park - (opened in 1976)
- The Garden (formerly Grandma’s Sports Garden) - opened in 1989
- Grandma’s Saloon & Grill in Virginia, Minnesota (opened in 1991)
- Grandma’s Saloon & Grill on Miller Hill (opened in 1992)
- Little Angie’s Cantina & Grill (opened in 1994)
- Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar (opened in 1997),
- Catering by Bellisio’s (added in 2021)
- Adventure Zone, opened in 2001, a place for year-round family fun in Canal Park.
And, of course, there is another similar-sounding organization that has become synonymous with Duluth: Grandma’s Marathon. While the restaurant and marathon are now totally separate entities, their beginnings are inexorably intertwined. Grandma’s Marathon was so named because Grandma’s Restaurants was the original sponsor of the race.
And what about the company’s iconic figurehead, the legend known as Grandma Rosa Brochi? The legend-filled story woven around “Grandma Rosa” is that of a stern madam working on Duluth’s waterfront red-light district. The present location of the original Grandma’s restaurant was at one time a brothel, which served the sailors of the Twin Ports.
For the full back-story on Grandma’s and the restaurants built that help transform Canal park, please read the Destination Duluth story Grandma's Restaurant Plays Key Role in Canal Park's Rebirth and from Grandma's Restaurant website on The Legend and The Real Story.
In 1975 Andy Borg Jr and Michael "Mick" Paulucci (son of Jeno), purchased the Sand Bar Cafe, renovated and opened as Grandma's Saloon and Deli in 1976.
Renovations and Expansion of Grandma's in 1980s - From Grandmasrestaurants.com
Today, a portion of the exterior of the original building is visible.
Vibe
The vibe at Grandma’s is classic American. The walls are painted in a rich, deep forest green. The floors, tables, and bars (there are a couple) are constructed of rich hardwood.
The walls feature cool old metal signs and neons advertising food and drink. There is even a gift shop with Grandma's-themed merch that hungry guests can browse as they await a table.
Seating options include the main dining room and a few “side rooms.” Seating is also available at the two well-appointed bars.
There is another dining area upstairs and a wonderful outdoor patio overlooking Canal Park and the Aerial Lift Bridge for warm summer days. The restaurant is located in one of Duluth’s hottest hotspots, making it a great place to gather.
Our fellow diners included pretty much all demographics: young families, groups of ladies, elders, and couples.
Food & Drink
Grandma’s menu offers a bit of everything: apps, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and wild rice dishes, grilled items, and a kids’ menu. Beverages include cocktails, mocktails, wine, and beer (with plenty of local representation, like Bent Paddle, Blacklist, Castle Danger, and Wild State Cider). Non-alcoholic options include Coca-Cola and Minute Maid products.
For his meal, Mike selected the Spicy Italian, a hearty pasta dish. From the menu:
Spicy Italian
Penne pasta with zesty Pomodoro sauce and spicy ground fennel sausage topped with Parmesan cheese. Served with a breadstick.
The Spicy Italian is a zesty, hearty pasta dish. Photo by Mike Busche
The dish arrived looking festive, with bright red tomatoes and vibrant parsley. Both the sauce and fennel sausage were indeed zesty, but not overly spicy. The sauce made a delicious place to dunk the still-warm, buttery breadstick.
I selected the Beef Tenderloin Kabob, a Grandma’s house specialty. From the menu:
Beef Tenderloin Kabob
A skewer of beef tenderloin, green pepper, and onions in Miracle Marinade and char-grilled. Served with choice of potato or rice and a breadstick.
The beef tenderloin kebab was perfectly grilled and had both sweet and salty flavors. It is plated atop a large portion of wild rice. Photo by Mike Busche
The meat and veggies were perfectly grilled, and the meat had a salty/sweet flavor, courtesy of that Miracle Marinade. (A Grandma’s proprietary sauce). For my side, I opted for the wild rice – a Grandma’s classic, which was chewy and savory.
The dish was served with a mushroom cream sauce made from a Roux base. I also received a warm, chewy breadstick, which I alternated between dunking in the cream sauce and Mike’s Pomodoro.
We paired our meals with two different red wines. After receiving some excellent guidance from our server, Richard, I selected the Layer Cake Pinot Noir from California, which has strong notes of raspberry, pomegranate, and cranberry.
Mike ordered The Show Malbec – a bold Argentinian wine with notes of blackberry and plum. Both wines were a beautiful and tasty complement to our unique dishes.
A California Pinot Noir (Layer Cake) and an Argentinian Malbec (The Show) made a lovely accompaniment to our meal. Photo by Mike Busche
Service
Our server, Richard Przybylek, is a veteran in the restaurant biz, with 28 years’ experience. He is originally from St. Augustine, Florida, and moved here about a year ago to get away from the hot, humid weather, and “rude people.” (He loves our concept of “Minnesota nice,” by the way, and will testify to its veracity).
Przybylek was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He is also well-versed in beverage pairings. He stopped by often to check in on us and chat.
Our server, Richard Przybylek, is a veteran of the restaurant industry, and is well-versed in the menu at Grandma’s, along with beverage pairings. Photo by Mike Busche
Verdict
We had a wonderful meal at Grandma’s, with tasty food and friendly service. The restaurant’s Canal Park location and the visual interest of all the memorabilia undoubtedly adds to the experience.
It’s easy to see why Grandma’s has become – and remains - such a Duluth staple.
For more information about Grandma’s Canal Park, please visit: Grandmas Saloon and Grill restaurant - The 1976 Original in Canal Park. (grandmasrestaurants.com)
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Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications, and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.
