El Torero Mexican Restaurant

Phone: 618-451-1177

3439 Nameoki Rd

Granite City, Illinois 62040

El Torero looks like a new Mexican restaurant in town.  I think they try to hard to appeal to the American public, it is almost tacky.  They have an American flag in their name, American flags in the writing in the booths, and all over the place.  If I wanted American food I would of went to McDonald’s, but I want Mexican that is why I went here.

To start out they brought us some chips and salsa.  The salsa was the best part.  It was a little spicy, which is good, they were not scared to turn people off by the salsa being too spicy, unlike every other Mexican restaurant.  The menu was very usual.  It feels like if you have been to one Mexican restaurant you have been to them all.  They have about 10 lunch specials which are very cheap.  I ordered the lunch taco, thinking it was a taco because that is what the menu said, but when the server brought it out it was a taco salad.  I was disappointed, and wondered why they would tease any one like that.  I guarantee that someone else has done this same thing at this restaurant.  So as you can tell they have bad descriptions on their menu.  The taco salad was a shell filled with chicken, lettuce and sour cream.  It was pretty plain for my taste.  This place would be a place to go to if you are in the mood for Mexican, but it didn’t hit the spot for me.

Prices: I paid $4.50 for a lunch taco salad.  Other than that the prices are just as much as any other Mexican place.  

Penn Station—Multiple locations.

Penn Station has many locations in and around the St. Louis area. Since I am working in Granite City, Illinois this week, I went to theGranite City location.  At all of the Penn Stations you order your food at the counter and then it is brought to you. 

 Penn Station is the place to get a sub sandwich.  This place is famous for the cheese-steak sandwich.  This is what I get when I go.  It is the only thing I have ever gotten there.  They serve all of their subs hot and cooked to order.  They also have a bunch of chicken, turkey, ham, salami, and other kinds of sandwiches.   For the vegetarian they have the artichoke sandwich which is very good as well.  I have had a few bites.  Their prices are a little more than Subway’s but it is well worth it.   

Prices:  I got a small Philly Cheese steak sub with extra cheese, fries and a drink.  All of that stuff cost $9, but the sandwiches are so good. 

Imo’s Pizza—Multiple Locations, Find Locations

Imo’s Pizza is, and has been a St. Louis favorite for a long time. Pizza is the best thing on their menu, but they have other good food as well.  They have sandwiches, pasta, and salads.  They are a pizza place that serves Italian food.  If you go to Imo’s order the pizza, it has the famous St. Louis style thin crust, and it is covered in whatever toppings you want and provolone cheese.  The provolone makes the pizza great.  The salads at Imo’s are not that good.  It seems like they use bag lettuce and pile the on the cheese.  The house salad dressing is not he best Italian dressing I have had either.  It is a sweet Italian , and I don't like sweet stuff on my salad.  I went to the Edwardsville, Illinois Imo’s and they have a salad bar.  This was great, I was able to put as much or as little of something as I liked.  Not all of the Imo’s have salad bars, but I would go there a lot more for lunch if they did. 

Get the Pizza when you go to Imo’s that is the only thing worth getting, but it is one of the best pizzas in St. Louis

Prices: I was able to get an 8” pizza, salad bar, and a drink for $7.

Arby’s—Multiple Locations

Arby's is a fast food restaurant that has really grown over the past five to seven years. They started out as a place to get a roast beef sandwich, hence the name "Arby's" (RBs). I don't think their roast beef sandwiches are near as good as Lions Choice's. Now Arby's has more to offer on their menu, like the market fresh sandwiches, which have really taken off. Arby's started making thier food with higher quality ingredients, and this is when they really started growing.

I went to Arby's wanting to get the pick 5 for $5.95 but I ended up getting one of their new toasted subs. This is a new item they have been advertising in the last month or so. I got the turkey club toasted sub, fries and a drink. The turkey club, had turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a grilled loaf of bread. This turkey club was o.k., I probably would not get it again if I were to go back. I should of ordered the "pick 5 for 5.95". This is a great deal. You have your choice of a roast beef sandwich, a ham and cheese sandwich, cheese sticks, potato cakes, fries, a drink and a shake. You could make a meal for two for $5.95, I think that is a good deal.

Prices: Toasted turkey club, fries and a drink for $7.50

Contact us at Tim@StlStuff.com

Applebee's - Multiple Locations

It pains me to say this but I ate at Applebee's and they actually had something good. There are Applebees all over the St. Louis area, and I went to the one on Manchester. Applebee's is a generic chain restaurant bar and grill just like T.G.I. Friday and other places like that. Serve food that appeals to the regular American person. They serve burgers, chicken, and a bunch of other fried food and salads. Inside Applebee's there is a bar and tables all around the bar.

I can't believe Applebee's has something that I like. I used to call the place Crapplebee's. It just seemed like they didn't try to make good tasting food. I went to Applebee's with a partner at my firm for lunch and he convinced me to get the crispy orange chicken bowl. It is pretty expensive, around $9.50. The orange chicken bowl was good, and was filled with rice and vegetables. This was a big bowl and was more than enough for a lunch. I usually don't like going to Applebee's but I would go and eat the crispy orange chicken bowl.

Prices: About $9.50 for a crispy orange chicken bowl