THE EATBEAT: Two-for-one burgers a draw at Ground Round

• Marilyn Hagerty

Marilyn Hagerty

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• www.marilynhagerty.com

Two-for-one burgers bring hungry people into the Ground Round at 2800 32nd Ave. S. on Tuesday evenings. The free popcorn is a draw, and customers count on it.

The restaurant, which opened here in 1985, has become one of the established eating places in Grand Forks.

And I was debating whether to go for a summer salad or a burger plate when I met friends for lunch there in early August.

For me, the series of menus that show up in restaurants like this is rather bewildering and can be challenging. I found a Quarter Pound Rounder ($6.69). Then, there were toppings I could add for $1.99. And I began to wonder whether I might not prefer a summer salad. There were choices on three different menus.

The Cobb salad caught my eye. I have enjoyed this in various versions. The Ground Round summer salad is a combination of tomato, bacon, eggs, avocado and bleu cheese crumbles on salad greens.

I opted for the half-salad ($7.99) rather than the whole salad ($10.99). It was more than plenty. I took half of it home for supper.

The salad was interesting because of the variety of tastes. The flatbread on the side was just right. Any decent salad deserves a piece of bread.

I was lunching with friends from Tucson, Ariz., who were here visiting relatives. The popcorn was great for nibbling as five of us perused the menus.

Out of curiosity, we shared an order of fried pickles that met with mixed reviews. The dill pickles were fried in a coating that was too salty for our tastes. But it was an item of interest, and the Ground Round menus are full of ideas.

By the time our order was taken, we were sampling a little of everything on the luncheon menus.

The soup of the day was good. We were especially impressed by the flaky croissant on which some sandwiches are served. And the asparagus spears that showed up on the plate were excellent.

People go to this restaurant for various reasons. Some like the late-afternoon bargains in the lounge area. Some like the comparative quiet of the dining room with its brightly colored lamps and booth or table seating. And the two-for-one burgers Tuesdays are a big draw.

The restaurant is close to Columbia Mall. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week with a seating capacity of 250.

The Ground Round has been part of the local restaurant scene since 1985. It was part of Atlas Foods, which also operates Paradiso on South Washington Street, until April. At that time, it was purchased by Matt Walkowiak, who doubles as manager.

He came to Grand Forks to attend the UND School of Aeronautics and ended up buying a restaurant. He likes what he does and says in spite of hard economical times, people still eat out. He figures the convenience of going out is a strong factor — along with the fact that groceries are so high when you are cooking at home.

Ground Round

Address: 2800 32nd Ave. S., Grand Forks

Owner/manager: Matt Walkowiak.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week.

Seating: For 250.

Phone: (701) 775-4646.

Report card: While the menus at Ground Round are challenging, they also offer a wide range of food. The two-for-one burgers Tuesdays are a big draw. Brightly colored lamps enhance dining room seating at booths or tables. Free popcorn is a big draw.

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