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Elite Circle Grille

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junebug7137
junebug7137
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
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1
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Editor Pick

Elite Circle Grille

  • March 7, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by junebug7137 from Jersey City, New Jersey
Elite Circle Grille

History --
The waitstaff at Elite Circle Grille all have different slogans on the back of their black t-shirts--slogans like, "eat with a legend" or "I survived the circle." At first I had no idea what these slogans meant, but after dining at Elite a few more times, I started to understand. Elite (which opened in 1919 and was recently massively remodeled) is one of those rare restaurants with history, credibility, and good food, too.

That "legend" mentioned in the slogan? He's none other than Elvis Presley, who used to eat peanut butter and banana sandwiches at Elite in the '50s when he was stationed at Fort Hood in nearby Killeen. The "I survived the circle" was a little easier to figure out. Elite is situated on the northwest edge of the historic circle intersection in Waco, where roads from San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas used to meet.

Atmosphere --
In keeping with its history, the newly remodeled Elite went back to its roots. The walls, especially the bathrooms, are decorated with Elvis and Waco memorabilia. Swathed in subtle black and taupe, Elite's booths and table seating spreads out in a V-shape from the entrance. On either end of the V are two large rooms, perfect for large parties or receptions. In the center of the V is the bar area, which offers small-table seating, flat screen TVs, and a mid-20s-and-up happy hour crowd.

When it comes to the crowd and the attitude of Elite, almost anything goes. On the weekends, Elite usually has a jazz-type band play in one of the corners of the restaurant. The clientele is very mixed--There are college kids, families, 30-somethings on dates, and even an older crowd who probably remember Elite in its former days.

Food --
One reason Elite attracts such a varied crowd is that it offers something they can all agree on--the delicious food. My personal favorites are the Cashew Chicken Salad ($8.45), the House Club ($6.95), Elite Cheeseburger ($6.45), the Queso Catfish ($10.45) and the Coconut Shrimp ($13.45).

The chicken salad is huge and served in a scooped-out pineapple. The House Club, which is served on wheat berry bread, comes with french fries, but I like to switch out the fries for their homemade, chunky mashed potatoes. Some of my more carnivorous friends really enjoy the Dr Pepper BBQ Baby Back Ribs ($16.45) or the Elite Steaks. No matter what you get, the portions are huge, and all meals come with delightfully sinful yeast rolls with coconut or garlic butter.

The best deal at Elite is their happy hour (Mon-Fri from 4-7pm). Drinks are discounted, margaritas are $1 and appetizers are half-priced. There were times when I made an entire meal out of yeast rolls, Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($6.45) or Crawfish Queso ($7.95), and Elite's amazing mint mojitos (I didn't say it was a healthy meal). They're still the best mojitos I've ever had and they come in mason jars too.

www.elitecirclegrille.com

From journal Waco--Central Texas at Its Best

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