Pat & Gracie’s: Our Newest Reason to Visit Clintonville

If you’ve had the pleasure of visiting Clintonville, you know that it’s packed with adorable shops, restaurants and gastro-pubs. It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re in need of a really good meal or a refreshing craft beer, and the neighborhood is filled with young families making it an extremely kid-friendly spot (bonus!).  

Clintonville was our home for the first few years after getting married, and while we don’t go back nearly as much as we would like, we are always looking for reasons to drive by our old house and check out the new development in the area (it’s growing like crazy!). Since we continued to hear positive reviews about Pat and Gracie’s, a cute little tavern located in the historic Graceland Shopping Center, we decided to head back to our old stomping ground, with the kiddos, of course. 

Pat and Gracie’s is small, and on this particular night, it was buzzing with noise from diners and TVs making it a great option for a dinner out with our (not so quiet) kids. Tall top tables and a large bar take up the majority of the space, but there are a handful of low-top tables that are perfect for families (no one is falling off a high bar stool, you can easily pull up a highchair, etc.). 

Our service was overall solid, and while they don’t offer a printed kid’s menu, they will make most of the basics if asked. Our kids went with the cheeseburger — and mac & cheese of course 🙂 I honestly can’t remember a time when Jack has cleaned his plate, but he ate every last bite of that burger. Kudos Pat & Gracie’s for satisfying the MOST picky eater! 

Ellie’s mac & cheese was super cheesy and creamy — and served with her choice of side which was broccoli that she actually ate (mom-win). 

Pat & Gracie’s is known for their burgers — and they all include two fresh 3-ounce Certified Angus Beef patties, hand patted and smash-cooked on a griddle. You can choose from five different mouth-watering options — and can even substitute a grilled chicken breast if beef is not your thing. Want some extra bacon (obviously) or a fried egg added? For an extra few bucks, it’s yours. 

While a burger would normally be a solid option for my husband, he decided to change things up a bit and order the Steak Frittes which included 2 four oz. filet medallions topped with an herb compound butter and served with hand-cut fries. I did manage to steal a few bites and…YUM. For a more casual restaurant, we were really impressed with this meal (typically a dish that is more challenging to pull off at a more casual spot). 

I appreciated that they also feature a variety of ‘Big Bowl Salads’ on their menu — and I just had to go with the classic P&G Salad which included kale, wild arugula, baby spinach, carrots, cucumber, celery, garlic croutons, served with a garlic herb vinaigrette and garnished with feta cheese crumbles. I added chicken — and it was awesome — super fresh and filling. 

All of this, with the addition of some chocolate milk, apple juice, a glass of Chardonnay and a chocolate stout, made for the perfect family dinner out. We’ll definitely be back.