Gramma Butterwicks is a homey type of a restaurant on South Washington Street where you can find easy parking and coffee waiting. The restaurant is open early for breakfast and closes at 4 p.m.
The owners decided several years ago to give up on the evening dinner business. They cater to people who like a dinner at noon.
The place is probably at its busiest after church Sundays.
When I went in there on a recent Sunday, there was a short wait for seating. I opted a place at the counter and ordered a half-meatloaf sandwich ($6.49) that turned out to be a carbohydrate fix for the day. With the sandwich, there was gravy on mashed potatoes. It was good but rather bland, and I considered ordering a side of vegetables. But when I found out corn was the only choice, I decided to do vegetables later in the day.
The food is middle-of- the-road -- good, fairly priced and served without any long delays. That's probably because of the two longtime cooks who work in the kitchen. They are Oscar Oliva and Laurie Ness. Their home-cooked meals include tomato soup Tuesdays. And that is probably the signature item for Gramma Butterwicks.
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The coffee, which is $1.79, is good-tasting. There are pastries on the counter to go with it. The breakfast menu is extensive. There's a Country Breakfast billed as "all you can eat" for $8.59. And waitresses said UND students like to try it on weekends.
The menu also lists Belgian waffles and 10 versions of omelets. There are senior specials for breakfast as well as lunch. Dinner items for $8.49 include meatloaf, liver and onion and chicken strips. There is a menu for kids younger than 10.
Gramma Butterwicks has parking spaces in front as well as at the rear of the building. It's easy to get in and out. There are homey-looking plants here and other bric-a-brac.
The front part of the restaurant seems like an old-fashioned diner with booths along the windows and smaller booths on the other side. At the rear of the restaurant, there is a large, sunny dining room with booths and tables for groups.
Terry and Ruth Jenson, who own the restaurant, have longtime experience in Grand Forks. He formerly operated Fire Island on Gateway Drive that now houses Al's. She was with Gordy's Cafe on Gateway Drive. Before having his own place, Terry Jenson worked as a chef at the Westward Ho.
This winter, the Jensons took a few weeks off and went to Arizona, leaving the restaurant under the watchful eye of their daughter, Lisa Dusterhoft.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or call (701) 772-1055.
