Walking into the Bluegrass Grill at 55 E. Main St. gives you a feeling of Old Kentucky. With a mountain mural painted on the wall and bluegrass music playing over the speakers, I observed the wooden flooring that reminded me of an old church; it was not engineered or compressed. There were also bench pews along the side walls that served as booth seating where tables were placed. Tables in the center were spaced out comfortably and a pine bench for waiting was at the door.

The restaurant isn’t that big and at lunch time you may have to wait. I arrived a few minutes before lunchtime and was seated immediately. I went up to the counter and a young man led me to a table that he hurriedly cleaned off for me as he conducted a phone conversation on his cell phone which I am sure was a business call – probably with the chef in the back, wouldn’t you think?

Seated on the long church pew against the wall, I shared the bench with a gentleman at the next table.

I was given a menu as I asked for coffee and water. The restaurant serves breakfast all day and that was what I wanted. I was impressed with the menu choices. I knew immediately what made my mouth water - the Alderwood Smoked Salmon Frittata with herb-creamed cheese for $8.25. I wasn’t sure what a frittata was but I felt the price was reasonable for salmon.

My coffee cup was not generic or plain but was personal, advertising a local church’s men’s seminar. It was good coffee. As I waited for my order, I noticed the gentleman beside me had a fidgeting problem with his leg which made sipping my coffee a wee bit challenging. I didn’t realize when I ordered the frittata, that I had choices of more food. I felt the frittata would be enough but the waitress asked me if I wanted a biscuit or toast and if I wanted home fries, grits or fruit.

I chose a biscuit and grits, still not certain what a frittata was I hoped that my choice would complement my surprise dish. Oh, I could have asked what a frittata was but I didn’t want that to sway my decision in ordering something I had never tried. Someday, I’d like to go into a restaurant and say, “Oh just surprise me!”

I saw hot sauces on my table which I was curious about. They were Bluegrass Grill’s own sauces. I looked at each one, “Garlic Habanero Sauce”, “Chipotle Sauce” and “Smokey Mountain Sauce”. I decided that whatever a frittata was, I would try a dash of one of these sauces with at least one bite!

My meal was brought to me and boy, did it look delicious! Though the grits looked a little sloppily served in the bowl on my plate. I noticed the fresh dill right away on my flat egg and fish dish. A frittata must be an “egg pancake”. It was a thin pancake-style egg with the salmon cooked in. The dill topped it off perfectly. I noticed the biscuit was made with wheat. I like wheat toast but had never tried a wheat biscuit before. It was good! The texture, the flavor, I think I prefer it!

Of course, the grits needed salting for my taste and the salt shakers on the table made you work for it. I didn’t want to disturb the gentleman next to me and get him off rhythm if I shook the shaker too hard. The grits were very good though, or as one of my friends had told me – they are “glorious”.

When I tasted the frittata, I had to savor it for a little while. The flavors were so good together. Dollops of herb-creamed cheese were on top which blended so nicely with the dill and alder wood smoked flavor of the salmon.

I tried the Smokey Mountain Sauce that was on the table on a bite of the frittata and it was very good but I liked how the chef prepared it best and no salt or any condiment was needed. Grits always need salt to me, but as for the frittata - it was perfect.

I noticed the lunch crowd was coming in and a few people had to wait to be seated. A new set of gentlemen came to sit at the table near me. I hoped the one on my pew didn’t have a shaking leg. He said aloud, “I know what I am going to have - the salmon. My wife has me eating all this healthy food.” As I had surveyed the menu before ordering; he or anyone certainly would be able to have many choices for healthy eating.

I enjoyed this restaurant from the moment that I walked in. I liked the atmosphere, the food and the prompt service. And the price for a beautiful salmon dish with sides couldn’t be beat!