Back in the 1990s, when I was a spry teenage Louis, I became a regular at Classen Grill near the Donnay Building – frequently finding myself skipping homeroom for a greasy, home-cooked, beatnick breakfast, usually an omelet with some fresh orange juice and coffee.
It always hit the spot, giving me the errant energy for second period and, of course, lunch.
As time went on and a new millennium and adulthood emerged, I found myself stopping by Classen Grill less and less often as both it and the area fell into neglect. The food and service had gone way downhill, and by the time the restaurant closed a few years ago as part of Donnay Building renovations, it felt more like "Good Riddance" than "Goodbye."
It's been a few years since the old Classen Grill closed, and I'm happy to report a new and improved incarnation has taken its place.
I stopped by this past weekend under my boss's orders, and I have to say: You really need to check it out.
After grabbing a table and meeting a friendly server, the first thing I did was order some fresh-squeezed orange juice. A signature of the old Classen Grill, the nectar-rich fluids are processed in-house by a futuristic orange-crushing machine.