Food is excellent. The service is also excellent. We had a large group of people who all chose to get separate checks after the fact. In many restaurants that would not have been permitted. However, our server was very polite and never expressed any frustration. It is a very positive environment in the unusual location of a large Christian church. Everyone in our group commented about the high quality of the food. I recommend trying this for an excellent positive experience.
(5)
Dave L.
Got seated quickly, Service is exceptional and pleasurable staff. It's a shame I have lived here 4 years and this is was my first time here. The food was very good and came quickly, The menu is not huge but a very good selection. I will be back again.
(4)
Roger A.
Our server was excellent and the food was so flavorful. Love the brussel sprouts, very tasty! Also enjoyed the eggplant Parmesan dinner. Presentation was excellent! Will have to come back here when I'm back in Florida!
(5)
Michael S.
3.5/5 for now after my first visit. If people can't find this restaurant it's not because it's difficult to find its because they have no sense of direction. The signs are pretty clear. Once we entered the restaurant it had an interesting ambiance and we were sat in a booth next to the kitchen which was kind of cool. Waitress was excellent and I always had my ice tea refilled when necessary. Service was solid given some of the complaints written about here. We came for dinner and the prices were quite reasonable. I give it a 3.5/5 due to the food quality. We started with the hot wings, which the chicken was good but they should have been a little more crispy. Also they weren't really hot at all, more like medium. My wife had the steak tacos (they ran out of the special which was a steak chimichurri taco that sounded more appealing. The steak was supposed to be filet and the steak pieces itself tasted fine, but there was very little seasoning. Overall the quality of the ingredients were okay, it just tasted bland. I had the bang bang shrimp which was good but nothing to write home about. Now, there was one stand out that was absolutely ezcellent. Their peanut butter smores dessert for $6 was absolutely outstanding, one of the best tasting desserts I had in a while. I'll come back and try a few other apps and entrees.
(3)
Savanna M.
So after years of working 10 mins away from here, or even less now...I finally made it to The Grill. What held me back for so long? Well the location for one. I'm not a big fan of organized religion and despite the superb reviews and coworkers urging me to go I just couldn't bring myself to eat here as I felt it was a little strange. Thanks to Rigo R. for pushing me to finally eat here! As it turns out, it's even weirder than I thought lol, but the food ended up being great, and the restaurant itself is quite beautiful so I'll be back. So the weird part...yes it's within the church, and if you follow the news you may have seen the latest scandal with the leader of Calvary stepping down, but there is also a school here. We followed the signs for The Grill and parked in a parking lot NOT near the main restaurant entrance so I didn't get the full school tour-walk-through that other reviewers got, but I did get to see some banquet halls and the school cafeteria. And I'm not going to lie, I really got the feel that everyone here was giving me the stare down and knew that I didn't quite fit in lol. But at least I didn't get that feel from our waitress. After some wandering around we ended up finding our way to The Grill's back entrance and from there found the hostess to seat us. The restaurant is gorgeous, dimly lit etc...and this alone would make me come back. The prices are a bit on the high side as most lunch options are $10-$18, but the portions were large and really the food was very well done. Skipping the sandwich options to avoid the carbs I somehow reasoned that the eggplant lasagna would be a better option lol, and actually it turned out great because it was in fact a eggplant lasagna using slices of eggplant as the noodle layers! Ok, so the eggplant was breaded but I walked out feeling less carb guilty! This came topped with arugula and really was beautiful looking. The service was a little spotty, but nothing to complain about. I'm not sure if she was handling a few too many tables, or just new as I got the feel the staff here may even be high-school students working during their lunch break, or at least maybe recent graduates? (They sure did look young!) Honestly it was a great lunch and made that much better by great company :)
(4)
Larry S.
Awesome atmosphere. Great food. Whether going for a business meeting, or checking out a service. The blue strawberry salad is my favorite. Get the dressing on the side. If they have it the blackened salmon is really good:-) Also, they have a great coffee bar right inside the restaurant:-) I'm there twice a week:-) The oatmeal cookies are awesome:-)
(4)
Fern B.
Inside the church complex, after service I found this place to be excellent, professional, delicious food and super nice customer service. I live like 1 1/2 hours away, and i already told my wife to come with me to try other things on the menu.
(5)
Steve C.
Ducked in to film some video content for Broward Crime Stoppers, it was the police chief's luncheon and this was the venue. Good stuff: * Donuts for centerpieces * Delicious Chicken with potatoes and asparagus * Excellent service * Clean and new and well run Cabeza OUT!
(4)
Joan L.
When does a Jewish family go to church right after picking their kids up from Hebrew School? When they are having brunch at "The Grill", which is located on the expansive campus of Calvary Church in Fort Lauderdale. Okay, so we did not actually go to church, but we were on the church grounds so we were not at all surprised by this upscale restaurant's Christian music and television playing in the background. I was surprised that we were able to get a table right away on a Sunday afternoon. The place is huge with a handsome earth tone decor. It was however, very dark. With no windows to the outside and low lighting, I could barely read my menu in the middle of the day. Also, the acoustics and the way the tables are placed make the room very loud , making conversation quite difficult. The brunch menu is somewhat limited with four items labeled "Fellowship Food", a few pizzas, salads, and a dozen entrees. For an appetizer we ordered Bang Bang Shrimp ($12) from the "fellowship Food". It could have been a bit crispier, but the shrimp was plump and chili soy sauce was quite delicious. It also could have used a bit more of the sauce. The shrimp came on top of cole slaw. Now I am not a fan of lots of mayo in cole slaw, but whoever made this cole slaw forgot the mayo altogether! It was more like bland cabbage. The mains that we ordered included: Nutella Stuffed Strawberry French Toast ($7): 11 year old ordered this and it really looked delicious if you have a sweet tooth. He took off the banana jam and cream cheese frosting so he was really left with the French toast and Nutella. Steakhouse Burger with Fried Egg ($14): they forgot the cheese on this mediocre burger with bacon & fried onions. Country Breakfast ($9): I might be doing my 10 year old's arteries a grave disservice by letting him order this dish which consists of fried chicken, fried eggs, cheddar cheese grits, and sausage gravy. This was a home run for my son, who absolutely adored this dish. Buenos Dias Tostada: I got this dish which consisted of fried eggs, black beans, cheddar cheese, guacamole, cheddar cheese grits, & a flour tortilla. All of the components of the dish were good. For that very reason, I wish these items were separated and not all layered and mushed together. For example, the cheese grits tasted yummy but I would have like to have tried a bite without a mouthful of beans. The service was fair. We were greeted quickly and the food came out in a reasonable amount of tine but our beverages sat empty for long periods of time. I have seen in other reviews that many of the people that work there are volunteers so it is hard to be too critical. For me this was a solid 3 1/2 stars. I just could not round up because I don't see returning. Only my 10 year old really adored his meal, there was not enough variety, and the place is a bit out of the way. It would be cool though to have a nice restaurant like this on the grounds of our synagogue!
(3)
Bryan R.
The Grill @ Calvary Church north side of airport FTL executive, 6-12-15 coconut curry soup ( best ) but served on Fridays only - bang bang shrimp ok - Smokehouse Burger (awesome) - flourless chocolate cake w/ ice cream ok -service very friendly 9.0 - To try miso glazed mahi mahi on brown rice w/ grilled asparagus , pizza , chicken or fish sandwich bread pudding , big cookie , ahi tuna , eggplant Parm or chicken parm ? Be careful busy after Wednesday 8:30pm & Sunday morning service
(5)
Ian R.
Going to be candid and state that this review comes from someone who is not a member of the church. This place is down the road from where I work, and while I've driven by the Chapel and played basketball at their courts many a time I've never actually been (I was raised Jewish). However co-workers have mentioned "the restaurant in the church" on multiple occasions and went there for a work-related luncheon. First thought is, if you don't know where the restaurant is within this giant compound, it'd be pretty difficult to find. It's pretty close to the front but the place is so huge if I wasn't with people who had been previously I wouldn't have known where to start. The place was dead when we showed up (this was during the summer, so school was out) and were sat quickly. Apparently this place doubles as a school during the day? Even though it was summer there were a few kids hanging around just... hanging out. Seems questionable to have a restaurant open to everyone and potentially let strangers so close to school children. Would probably be even more awkward during a standard school day. As someone who's not particularly religious the Christian music playing did nothing to help the awkwardness. As everyone's mentioned the staff is volunteers and it seemed to show in the service. Our waitress was very nice, but very timid and seemed a bit inexperienced. The menu isn't that large but it is pretty diverse, I imagine there's something on there that could satiate even the pickiest of eaters. I ordered the Caesar Salad with steak on top and an order of fries. Despite being one of only maybe 2-3 tables with diners at them, it took our food 30-40 minutes. Again not sure if this is due to the volunteers or just an off-day. The food itself was pretty good. I wish the menu had stated it'd be a Caesar vinaigrette as I assumed it'd be of the typical creamy variety, and the steak medallions were a bit large/chunky to top a salad, but honestly that's just me splitting hairs, it was all really flavorful. The steak medallions were seasoned/cooked very well and the dressing/parmesan cheese still made for a solid Caesar flavor. Fries were also very crisp and well seasoned. Overall the food was probably a 4/5, a clear step above the Chili's/Friday's fare you might find nearby when it comes to the "quality" of the food/ingredients, but the ambiance and service were a 2/5 for me. If a co-worker were going here for lunch and asked me to go I'd probably pass and ask for an alternative, but if they insisted on going I wouldn't hesitate to ask them to bring me back something if I was hungry.
(3)
Josh D.
First time here.... What a surprise ..... This is an excellent place. The food was excellent.... Started with the spinach dip... Awesome cheese ... Plenary of chips as well as salsa and sour cream. I then had the steak tacos.... 3 excellent tacos with mango....service was excellent ... Very attentive as well...
(5)
Nicki P.
Solid quality food; if you're not a Church-goer it could prove a bit strange as this restaurant is in the middle of a Church Compound. The restaurant itself is very nice, both atmosphere and ambiance. The bang bang shrimp was good and my boss loves the ahi tuna salad. Good for work lunches.
(4)
K H.
Been here a number of times and the service is perfect, and the food divine !!!! Pepperoni pizza this time..... One of the best here, which is saying a lot from the Twin cities and they have GREAT pizza there!!!
(5)
Jeremy B.
My coworkers have been talking about this place for awhile, so I recently joined them for lunch at The Grill. It's located inside one of the buildings on the massive college campus-like Cavalry Chapel. After we parked, we walked past a few buildings, past a line of elementary school-age kids getting on one of those long golf-cart shuttles like the ones at Disney. I felt a little out of place going to eat lunch here. However, once we arrived, it has the feel of a nice restaurant inside. A little dark, but inviting and well-decorated. Service was very good. I hear the wait staff are volunteers. I could have gone with something a little cheaper like a sandwich or salad for around $10 but I opted for one of the specials, which if I remember correctly was crusted salmon over quinoa and some veggies ($17). It was excellent. My coworkers enjoyed their food as well and everything looked good. The regulars at our table said they have never had anything here that wasn't great. I plan to head back another time soon for a nice lunch!
(4)
Nikki H.
Pleasantly surprise. At the Calvary Church. It's a bit confusing to getting thru the classes and a lot children's all over . Very sweet. Once inside Grill all done in dark wood . Tables and booths. Servers as was told in one Yelper's said they were all volunteers NOT. But all servers belong to the church. Ok no alcohol . That's why only three stars We ordered the tuna that was on a kinda type of bread but not as thick , and the Bang Bang shrimp lettuce wraps messy. Totally bill w/o tip $23.00. Three stars no booze . Serves was very nice water always filled . A small little counter inside as well for a quick muffin soda,cookies .
(3)
Anne Marie G.
I really enjoy eating at the The Grill after service. It's a great place for fellowship. The staff is friendly and always remembers me. Overall the service is excellent. Right after service they are slammed so just be a little patient to get a table. I love their hamburgers and the sweet potato fries. I'm editing to take one star away, If you are eating alone, expect a long wait at their peak hours. They will make you wait and seat groups two or more ahead of you even if they have tables available. I have tried to address this and some of the staff has tried hard to squeeze me in, but the last time I visited I was outright refused a seat just because I was a one-top. As a single person, I eat alone a lot and have not received this treatment at any other restaurant. I will not return unless it is an off-hour or unless I'm with another person. Update: As to my point about being a one-top, they have addressed this and will bring out extra tables for their one-tops. Nice solution! I'm adding one star.
(5)
Gloria S.
They changed their recipe for our favorite pizzas. They should not have fixed what was not broken. They seem to be experimenting on dishes rather than keeping the basics that have been successful. Unfortunately we had the special, Chow fun. It was home made rice noodles, but someone accidentally spilled a bottle of heavy, spicey sauce over the small bowl and definitely did not try it. It was impossible to taste, much less eat. Over powering, with barely any vegetables as it claimed to have on the menu. The portion was a joke, we actually laughed and thought it was a side dish of sauce, rather than an entree. The service was also the worse we ever had, we felt forgotten many times. The place was not busy, the server, tho a nice guy, seemed pre occupied in mind and body elsewhere. We drive hours from Naples to eat here and attend services. We want to support the church but will no longer return to eat here. Although the Manager did offer to make things right, it was too late and we were already over it all, ready to leave. Feel bad, struggled with whether to update and downgrade my review but had to be truthful and perhaps thing will change back to the better of times.
(2)
Larry S.
I have eaten at the Grill many times. Phenomenal food, great service, & fairly priced. They always change up the menu so you are always trying new meals. I would definitely recommend the Grill. Also, I would try & plan a Wed nite bible study, or Sat nite or Sunday service while you're there. That experience is even better than the Grill. You will be very pleased you went:-)))
I didn't even know this place existed. Had no idea. I work right down the road, too. In fact, prior to relocating, our company was right across the street. But, enough on that as I transition into the review. I was pleasantly surprised. I arrived with a co-worker (who had been here before) and the place is immaculate. It looks like a top-rate restaurant and not a standard diner. You have to walk deep into Calvary Chapel to get to it. Upon being seated, service was solid. All the servers appear to be young. I'm guessing their affiliated with Calvary. I was told that all of the employees donate their time ... Not sure if that's true or not. I ordered a mahi mahi sandwich, and it was good. It was served on a pretzel roll and was accompanied with a sauce. I also received sweet potato fries (the server brought out regular fries, too, on accident). Everything was pretty good. As I mentioned in the tip section, this place gets busy right at noon. I'd recommend arriving a little before noon.
(4)
Denise R.
Food is great, people are friendly, safe environment. I absolutely love their Tuscan Chicken Panini with sweet potato fries. Yum!
(5)
Eric C.
Located in the mega-church Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, The Grill is a restaurant that offers fine dining with fancy decor. Because it is a part of the church's ministry, a lot of the wait staff are actually volunteers. They're a really friendly and professional bunch, and it makes eating here a more pleasant experience. My favorite thing to get is their Steakhouse burger ($13) with sweet potato fries; it's an awesome meal for a good deal. Cooked medium (or however you order it) with steak sauce, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, and onions; 'tis a true feast! Make note of the hours of operation, and especially watch out for the Wednesday night 8:30 PM rush hour. Other than that, The Grill is great for some fellowship and food.
(5)
Michelle Orchid R.
I love this place. Whenever I visit Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale this stop is a must after a good sermon. Everyone I go with for the first time is totally impressed. Every dish is good, from the appetizers to the dessert,they really go above and beyond. My server Anna the last time was enthusiastic and cheerful which made it the experience lovely. Thumbs up on the season treats like Pumpkin Spiced Latte and the pumpkin coffee cake. I always enjoy coming here and will definitely return:)
(5)
Amy M.
Gourmet quality food at an extremely resonable price! Wonderful atmosphere, EXCEPTIONAL service! They close a bit early on Friday evening, but probably the only place in the area you can walk in at 7pm on Friday, have a WONDERFUL meal unrushed, and still be out before 8pm for a full evening.
(5)
Ulises-Toni F.
Best lunch spot
(5)
Wendy G.
Pretty good food fairly priced.
(3)
Manuel M.
All good food here!!!
(5)
Jessica G.
Despite The Grill being located right across the street from where I work I hadn't ever been. The reviews are good, but it's location inside the Calvary church grounds just kept me away...I have feelings about churches, especially large ones that seem to make up an entire community...but I'll just leave it at that. The restaurant itself was beautiful, and they had a nice selection on the menu from lighter salads and sandwiches to pizza to full on entrees with sides. I am trying so hard to be healthy, so I went with the seared tuna salad. It was a good serving of rare seared tuna with a side of carrot/cucumerkale/mango "slaw" on the side tossed in a light ponzu dressing. I really enjoyed this meal. The tuna was cooked perfectly and there was a ton of it. As for the service our waitress was very friendly and though she gave off a young vibe that maybe wasn't that of a professionally trained waiter, it was obvious she was trying here best to make us happy. I do have to say that the service seemed quite slow however. Maybe it was because I was hungrier than normal, but it felt like forever between placing our order and actually having the food in front of us. It wasn't slow enough for me to get upset, but don't come here if you have a tight schedule.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
R Brian S.
Food is excellent. The service is also excellent. We had a large group of people who all chose to get separate checks after the fact. In many restaurants that would not have been permitted. However, our server was very polite and never expressed any frustration. It is a very positive environment in the unusual location of a large Christian church. Everyone in our group commented about the high quality of the food. I recommend trying this for an excellent positive experience.
(5)Dave L.
Got seated quickly, Service is exceptional and pleasurable staff. It's a shame I have lived here 4 years and this is was my first time here. The food was very good and came quickly, The menu is not huge but a very good selection. I will be back again.
(4)Roger A.
Our server was excellent and the food was so flavorful. Love the brussel sprouts, very tasty! Also enjoyed the eggplant Parmesan dinner. Presentation was excellent! Will have to come back here when I'm back in Florida!
(5)Michael S.
3.5/5 for now after my first visit. If people can't find this restaurant it's not because it's difficult to find its because they have no sense of direction. The signs are pretty clear. Once we entered the restaurant it had an interesting ambiance and we were sat in a booth next to the kitchen which was kind of cool. Waitress was excellent and I always had my ice tea refilled when necessary. Service was solid given some of the complaints written about here. We came for dinner and the prices were quite reasonable. I give it a 3.5/5 due to the food quality. We started with the hot wings, which the chicken was good but they should have been a little more crispy. Also they weren't really hot at all, more like medium. My wife had the steak tacos (they ran out of the special which was a steak chimichurri taco that sounded more appealing. The steak was supposed to be filet and the steak pieces itself tasted fine, but there was very little seasoning. Overall the quality of the ingredients were okay, it just tasted bland. I had the bang bang shrimp which was good but nothing to write home about. Now, there was one stand out that was absolutely ezcellent. Their peanut butter smores dessert for $6 was absolutely outstanding, one of the best tasting desserts I had in a while. I'll come back and try a few other apps and entrees.
(3)Savanna M.
So after years of working 10 mins away from here, or even less now...I finally made it to The Grill. What held me back for so long? Well the location for one. I'm not a big fan of organized religion and despite the superb reviews and coworkers urging me to go I just couldn't bring myself to eat here as I felt it was a little strange. Thanks to Rigo R. for pushing me to finally eat here! As it turns out, it's even weirder than I thought lol, but the food ended up being great, and the restaurant itself is quite beautiful so I'll be back. So the weird part...yes it's within the church, and if you follow the news you may have seen the latest scandal with the leader of Calvary stepping down, but there is also a school here. We followed the signs for The Grill and parked in a parking lot NOT near the main restaurant entrance so I didn't get the full school tour-walk-through that other reviewers got, but I did get to see some banquet halls and the school cafeteria. And I'm not going to lie, I really got the feel that everyone here was giving me the stare down and knew that I didn't quite fit in lol. But at least I didn't get that feel from our waitress. After some wandering around we ended up finding our way to The Grill's back entrance and from there found the hostess to seat us. The restaurant is gorgeous, dimly lit etc...and this alone would make me come back. The prices are a bit on the high side as most lunch options are $10-$18, but the portions were large and really the food was very well done. Skipping the sandwich options to avoid the carbs I somehow reasoned that the eggplant lasagna would be a better option lol, and actually it turned out great because it was in fact a eggplant lasagna using slices of eggplant as the noodle layers! Ok, so the eggplant was breaded but I walked out feeling less carb guilty! This came topped with arugula and really was beautiful looking. The service was a little spotty, but nothing to complain about. I'm not sure if she was handling a few too many tables, or just new as I got the feel the staff here may even be high-school students working during their lunch break, or at least maybe recent graduates? (They sure did look young!) Honestly it was a great lunch and made that much better by great company :)
(4)Larry S.
Awesome atmosphere. Great food. Whether going for a business meeting, or checking out a service. The blue strawberry salad is my favorite. Get the dressing on the side. If they have it the blackened salmon is really good:-) Also, they have a great coffee bar right inside the restaurant:-) I'm there twice a week:-) The oatmeal cookies are awesome:-)
(4)Fern B.
Inside the church complex, after service I found this place to be excellent, professional, delicious food and super nice customer service. I live like 1 1/2 hours away, and i already told my wife to come with me to try other things on the menu.
(5)Steve C.
Ducked in to film some video content for Broward Crime Stoppers, it was the police chief's luncheon and this was the venue. Good stuff: * Donuts for centerpieces * Delicious Chicken with potatoes and asparagus * Excellent service * Clean and new and well run Cabeza OUT!
(4)Joan L.
When does a Jewish family go to church right after picking their kids up from Hebrew School? When they are having brunch at "The Grill", which is located on the expansive campus of Calvary Church in Fort Lauderdale. Okay, so we did not actually go to church, but we were on the church grounds so we were not at all surprised by this upscale restaurant's Christian music and television playing in the background. I was surprised that we were able to get a table right away on a Sunday afternoon. The place is huge with a handsome earth tone decor. It was however, very dark. With no windows to the outside and low lighting, I could barely read my menu in the middle of the day. Also, the acoustics and the way the tables are placed make the room very loud , making conversation quite difficult. The brunch menu is somewhat limited with four items labeled "Fellowship Food", a few pizzas, salads, and a dozen entrees. For an appetizer we ordered Bang Bang Shrimp ($12) from the "fellowship Food". It could have been a bit crispier, but the shrimp was plump and chili soy sauce was quite delicious. It also could have used a bit more of the sauce. The shrimp came on top of cole slaw. Now I am not a fan of lots of mayo in cole slaw, but whoever made this cole slaw forgot the mayo altogether! It was more like bland cabbage. The mains that we ordered included: Nutella Stuffed Strawberry French Toast ($7): 11 year old ordered this and it really looked delicious if you have a sweet tooth. He took off the banana jam and cream cheese frosting so he was really left with the French toast and Nutella. Steakhouse Burger with Fried Egg ($14): they forgot the cheese on this mediocre burger with bacon & fried onions. Country Breakfast ($9): I might be doing my 10 year old's arteries a grave disservice by letting him order this dish which consists of fried chicken, fried eggs, cheddar cheese grits, and sausage gravy. This was a home run for my son, who absolutely adored this dish. Buenos Dias Tostada: I got this dish which consisted of fried eggs, black beans, cheddar cheese, guacamole, cheddar cheese grits, & a flour tortilla. All of the components of the dish were good. For that very reason, I wish these items were separated and not all layered and mushed together. For example, the cheese grits tasted yummy but I would have like to have tried a bite without a mouthful of beans. The service was fair. We were greeted quickly and the food came out in a reasonable amount of tine but our beverages sat empty for long periods of time. I have seen in other reviews that many of the people that work there are volunteers so it is hard to be too critical. For me this was a solid 3 1/2 stars. I just could not round up because I don't see returning. Only my 10 year old really adored his meal, there was not enough variety, and the place is a bit out of the way. It would be cool though to have a nice restaurant like this on the grounds of our synagogue!
(3)Bryan R.
The Grill @ Calvary Church north side of airport FTL executive, 6-12-15 coconut curry soup ( best ) but served on Fridays only - bang bang shrimp ok - Smokehouse Burger (awesome) - flourless chocolate cake w/ ice cream ok -service very friendly 9.0 - To try miso glazed mahi mahi on brown rice w/ grilled asparagus , pizza , chicken or fish sandwich bread pudding , big cookie , ahi tuna , eggplant Parm or chicken parm ? Be careful busy after Wednesday 8:30pm & Sunday morning service
(5)Ian R.
Going to be candid and state that this review comes from someone who is not a member of the church. This place is down the road from where I work, and while I've driven by the Chapel and played basketball at their courts many a time I've never actually been (I was raised Jewish). However co-workers have mentioned "the restaurant in the church" on multiple occasions and went there for a work-related luncheon. First thought is, if you don't know where the restaurant is within this giant compound, it'd be pretty difficult to find. It's pretty close to the front but the place is so huge if I wasn't with people who had been previously I wouldn't have known where to start. The place was dead when we showed up (this was during the summer, so school was out) and were sat quickly. Apparently this place doubles as a school during the day? Even though it was summer there were a few kids hanging around just... hanging out. Seems questionable to have a restaurant open to everyone and potentially let strangers so close to school children. Would probably be even more awkward during a standard school day. As someone who's not particularly religious the Christian music playing did nothing to help the awkwardness. As everyone's mentioned the staff is volunteers and it seemed to show in the service. Our waitress was very nice, but very timid and seemed a bit inexperienced. The menu isn't that large but it is pretty diverse, I imagine there's something on there that could satiate even the pickiest of eaters. I ordered the Caesar Salad with steak on top and an order of fries. Despite being one of only maybe 2-3 tables with diners at them, it took our food 30-40 minutes. Again not sure if this is due to the volunteers or just an off-day. The food itself was pretty good. I wish the menu had stated it'd be a Caesar vinaigrette as I assumed it'd be of the typical creamy variety, and the steak medallions were a bit large/chunky to top a salad, but honestly that's just me splitting hairs, it was all really flavorful. The steak medallions were seasoned/cooked very well and the dressing/parmesan cheese still made for a solid Caesar flavor. Fries were also very crisp and well seasoned. Overall the food was probably a 4/5, a clear step above the Chili's/Friday's fare you might find nearby when it comes to the "quality" of the food/ingredients, but the ambiance and service were a 2/5 for me. If a co-worker were going here for lunch and asked me to go I'd probably pass and ask for an alternative, but if they insisted on going I wouldn't hesitate to ask them to bring me back something if I was hungry.
(3)Josh D.
First time here.... What a surprise ..... This is an excellent place. The food was excellent.... Started with the spinach dip... Awesome cheese ... Plenary of chips as well as salsa and sour cream. I then had the steak tacos.... 3 excellent tacos with mango....service was excellent ... Very attentive as well...
(5)Nicki P.
Solid quality food; if you're not a Church-goer it could prove a bit strange as this restaurant is in the middle of a Church Compound. The restaurant itself is very nice, both atmosphere and ambiance. The bang bang shrimp was good and my boss loves the ahi tuna salad. Good for work lunches.
(4)K H.
Been here a number of times and the service is perfect, and the food divine !!!! Pepperoni pizza this time..... One of the best here, which is saying a lot from the Twin cities and they have GREAT pizza there!!!
(5)Jeremy B.
My coworkers have been talking about this place for awhile, so I recently joined them for lunch at The Grill. It's located inside one of the buildings on the massive college campus-like Cavalry Chapel. After we parked, we walked past a few buildings, past a line of elementary school-age kids getting on one of those long golf-cart shuttles like the ones at Disney. I felt a little out of place going to eat lunch here. However, once we arrived, it has the feel of a nice restaurant inside. A little dark, but inviting and well-decorated. Service was very good. I hear the wait staff are volunteers. I could have gone with something a little cheaper like a sandwich or salad for around $10 but I opted for one of the specials, which if I remember correctly was crusted salmon over quinoa and some veggies ($17). It was excellent. My coworkers enjoyed their food as well and everything looked good. The regulars at our table said they have never had anything here that wasn't great. I plan to head back another time soon for a nice lunch!
(4)Nikki H.
Pleasantly surprise. At the Calvary Church. It's a bit confusing to getting thru the classes and a lot children's all over . Very sweet. Once inside Grill all done in dark wood . Tables and booths. Servers as was told in one Yelper's said they were all volunteers NOT. But all servers belong to the church. Ok no alcohol . That's why only three stars We ordered the tuna that was on a kinda type of bread but not as thick , and the Bang Bang shrimp lettuce wraps messy. Totally bill w/o tip $23.00. Three stars no booze . Serves was very nice water always filled . A small little counter inside as well for a quick muffin soda,cookies .
(3)Anne Marie G.
I really enjoy eating at the The Grill after service. It's a great place for fellowship. The staff is friendly and always remembers me. Overall the service is excellent. Right after service they are slammed so just be a little patient to get a table. I love their hamburgers and the sweet potato fries. I'm editing to take one star away, If you are eating alone, expect a long wait at their peak hours. They will make you wait and seat groups two or more ahead of you even if they have tables available. I have tried to address this and some of the staff has tried hard to squeeze me in, but the last time I visited I was outright refused a seat just because I was a one-top. As a single person, I eat alone a lot and have not received this treatment at any other restaurant. I will not return unless it is an off-hour or unless I'm with another person. Update: As to my point about being a one-top, they have addressed this and will bring out extra tables for their one-tops. Nice solution! I'm adding one star.
(5)Gloria S.
They changed their recipe for our favorite pizzas. They should not have fixed what was not broken. They seem to be experimenting on dishes rather than keeping the basics that have been successful. Unfortunately we had the special, Chow fun. It was home made rice noodles, but someone accidentally spilled a bottle of heavy, spicey sauce over the small bowl and definitely did not try it. It was impossible to taste, much less eat. Over powering, with barely any vegetables as it claimed to have on the menu. The portion was a joke, we actually laughed and thought it was a side dish of sauce, rather than an entree. The service was also the worse we ever had, we felt forgotten many times. The place was not busy, the server, tho a nice guy, seemed pre occupied in mind and body elsewhere. We drive hours from Naples to eat here and attend services. We want to support the church but will no longer return to eat here. Although the Manager did offer to make things right, it was too late and we were already over it all, ready to leave. Feel bad, struggled with whether to update and downgrade my review but had to be truthful and perhaps thing will change back to the better of times.
(2)Larry S.
I have eaten at the Grill many times. Phenomenal food, great service, & fairly priced. They always change up the menu so you are always trying new meals. I would definitely recommend the Grill. Also, I would try & plan a Wed nite bible study, or Sat nite or Sunday service while you're there. That experience is even better than the Grill. You will be very pleased you went:-)))
(5)Rusty S.
(Full disclosure: I attend Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale.) I've avoided The Grill in the past simply because I didn't want to get caught in the rush after Wednesday and Sunday services. While I've read all the positive reviews here and elsewhere, I assumed most of them were other Calvary-ites simply being polite and wanting to encourage others to use this non-traditional ministry. However, after trying it for myself, I am now a believer. My wife and I visited during lunch. The restaurant is very clean and open. The décor is contemporary but not overly so. The tables are set comfortably apart so you do not have to share your neighbor's conversations. However, it is very loud when the restaurant is full. We both had a dolphin dish: I tried the miso-glazed Mahi Mahi, while my wife had the Mahi Mahi sandwich. The miso dolphin was fresh, cooked perfectly, and tasty. The portion size for this dish was huge. For $18, you get a piece of dolphin that is as large as the $21 dinner portions at Bonefish Grill. The wife liked her sandwich so much that she went as far to say that it was as good as the similar sandwich they serve at Les Chefs de France at the Epcot France pavilion (although the Grill fries were good, they were not seasoned like they do at LCF). We normally don't have dessert for lunch, but we shared the Apple Tartlet because our dinner entrees were so good. Again, another freshly prepared dish of quality that I would not have expected at a "church restaurant." Fresh apples baked in a tart shell topped with caramel, almonds, vanilla ice cream, and a single ripe strawberry. A little too heavy for me in the afternoon, but there was almost nothing left on the plate when we were done. The service was excellent. We never had to ask for a drink refill as our server always made a preemptive strike. If the servers are volunteers as everyone says, they must really love their ministry because we received better service at The Grill than in most restaurants we visit.
(5)Greg B.
I didn't even know this place existed. Had no idea. I work right down the road, too. In fact, prior to relocating, our company was right across the street. But, enough on that as I transition into the review. I was pleasantly surprised. I arrived with a co-worker (who had been here before) and the place is immaculate. It looks like a top-rate restaurant and not a standard diner. You have to walk deep into Calvary Chapel to get to it. Upon being seated, service was solid. All the servers appear to be young. I'm guessing their affiliated with Calvary. I was told that all of the employees donate their time ... Not sure if that's true or not. I ordered a mahi mahi sandwich, and it was good. It was served on a pretzel roll and was accompanied with a sauce. I also received sweet potato fries (the server brought out regular fries, too, on accident). Everything was pretty good. As I mentioned in the tip section, this place gets busy right at noon. I'd recommend arriving a little before noon.
(4)Denise R.
Food is great, people are friendly, safe environment. I absolutely love their Tuscan Chicken Panini with sweet potato fries. Yum!
(5)Eric C.
Located in the mega-church Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, The Grill is a restaurant that offers fine dining with fancy decor. Because it is a part of the church's ministry, a lot of the wait staff are actually volunteers. They're a really friendly and professional bunch, and it makes eating here a more pleasant experience. My favorite thing to get is their Steakhouse burger ($13) with sweet potato fries; it's an awesome meal for a good deal. Cooked medium (or however you order it) with steak sauce, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, and onions; 'tis a true feast! Make note of the hours of operation, and especially watch out for the Wednesday night 8:30 PM rush hour. Other than that, The Grill is great for some fellowship and food.
(5)Michelle Orchid R.
I love this place. Whenever I visit Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale this stop is a must after a good sermon. Everyone I go with for the first time is totally impressed. Every dish is good, from the appetizers to the dessert,they really go above and beyond. My server Anna the last time was enthusiastic and cheerful which made it the experience lovely. Thumbs up on the season treats like Pumpkin Spiced Latte and the pumpkin coffee cake. I always enjoy coming here and will definitely return:)
(5)Amy M.
Gourmet quality food at an extremely resonable price! Wonderful atmosphere, EXCEPTIONAL service! They close a bit early on Friday evening, but probably the only place in the area you can walk in at 7pm on Friday, have a WONDERFUL meal unrushed, and still be out before 8pm for a full evening.
(5)Ulises-Toni F.
Best lunch spot
(5)Wendy G.
Pretty good food fairly priced.
(3)Manuel M.
All good food here!!!
(5)Jessica G.
Despite The Grill being located right across the street from where I work I hadn't ever been. The reviews are good, but it's location inside the Calvary church grounds just kept me away...I have feelings about churches, especially large ones that seem to make up an entire community...but I'll just leave it at that. The restaurant itself was beautiful, and they had a nice selection on the menu from lighter salads and sandwiches to pizza to full on entrees with sides. I am trying so hard to be healthy, so I went with the seared tuna salad. It was a good serving of rare seared tuna with a side of carrot/cucumerkale/mango "slaw" on the side tossed in a light ponzu dressing. I really enjoyed this meal. The tuna was cooked perfectly and there was a ton of it. As for the service our waitress was very friendly and though she gave off a young vibe that maybe wasn't that of a professionally trained waiter, it was obvious she was trying here best to make us happy. I do have to say that the service seemed quite slow however. Maybe it was because I was hungrier than normal, but it felt like forever between placing our order and actually having the food in front of us. It wasn't slow enough for me to get upset, but don't come here if you have a tight schedule.
(4)Mauricio B.
Good food, good service and very pleasant atmosphere. The one thing that is very strange about this place, and has already been mentioned in a few other reviews, is its location. This restaurant is right inside the Calvary Church and School complex, and is actually not easy to find since parking is not in front of the restaurant. However, once you make it to the restaurant and walk through the sliding glass doors, you walk into a very nicely decorated dining area, with a combination of tables and booths. Food selection is not very large, but offers good variety. Both dishes I tried were very well prepared. The honey brussels sprouts were perfectly roasted and had a slight touch of wasabi taste, and for my entrée I tried the Fish of the day: Mahi Mahi sautéed and served on a bed of brown rice with grilled asparagus. They also had a seared tuna dish on their menu which I will try on my next visit. Definitely a place to recommend.
(4)