Mike’s American Grill Restaurant

Just got back from dinner here. The place is nice… has a simple bistro feel to it (white linen tablecloths, semi-​dim lighting, minor art on the walls, light rock being played at a reasonable volume, etc.) At first, I was very worried. They were short-​staffed in the dining room, so the bartender waited on us. Luckily, it was VERY slow for dinner, so it was our party of 4 and two other tables. She took our drink orders and brought out some bread & butter. I ordered a steak filet with a Caesar salad (cost extra) and a side of sweet potato fries (you get 1 side with a steak order).
We started with some fried calamari. The squid itself was very good. There was a side of marinara served, but it was very chunky and not suited for dipping. My only other gripe would be that they could have given more quantity (the cost was $ 8).
The Caesar was quite good. The dressing was already tossed in, and it was a good Caesar (not too overpowering, but had a good flavor). The croutons in it were great (not crunchy, but crispy… I like that). I had ordered the small Caesar too, but it was a nice size.
The steak & sweet potato fries came out next. The steak was on a sizzling hot plate (which I like as well). I had ordered it «medium» but it came out more on the «medium rare» side. Still, it was good. Just rating the steak, I’d give it a 7 out of 10. The sweet potato fries were GREAT (yes, I used all caps). They were wonderful. They were fried to perfection, but there was hardly any grease to speak of. They were lightly seasoned with salt and very yummy… cooked just right. Usually when I get sweet potato fries, a lot of them stick together, but all of these were separated.
I was drinking unsweetened iced tea. It was good, nothing too special.
I’m giving this one a 3 stars +. The lemons they served with our water/​tea appeared to have zeen cut the day before (not freshly cut). The butter they brought with the bread in the beginning was melting on the plate. The staff were nice, but I guess they had no choice… we were 1 of 3 tables at dinner on a Saturday night! I think I’d have gone with a 4 star rating if the steak was cooked to order… if your restaurant has the word «grill» in the title and you can’t get a steak’s doneness correct, I’m deducting points… sorry to say.
The cost seems a little excessive too (for what you get). Our check for 4 adults was about $ 25 per person (not including tax & tip). I could pay the same at Outback Steakhouse and get more food at the same quality. It’s almost as if they’re charging you for the atmosphere.
There is a full bar. There is a parking lot out front, but it’s on the small side.