Campus Grille- Last 2015 Restaurant!

You guys...I did it! I just squeaked by, and finally got to the last restaurant on the 2015 To Dine Challenge list just before Christmas hit. Hooray! 

Mr. H and I scooted out to Berea to Campus Grille for lunch last Saturday.

Just steps away from the Baldwin Wallace campus, it is open Wednesday - Sunday from 12 - 9PM (6PM on Sundays). There is a small parking lot in front of the building, and the signage is easy to identify.

This casual, family-friendly spot is serving up fresh, authentic Caribbean/Latin cuisine. They have printed menus at the counter, or you can order from the chalkboard menus hanging above.

Many were taking their food to-go, but they do have a small section of seating by the counter and another small section by the front door for dining in. We ordered at the counter, and took a seat to wait for our food. The open kitchen was allowing our nostrils to be tantalized from the smells wafting our way.

We decided to share the Caribbean Mango Guacamole ($8 with chips or $3.30 as a side). Guacamole is not served with tortilla chips here. Instead, you get these pressed and fried plantains (tostones) with lots of garlic. We loved them! My dad would hate this place. Garlic everywhere!

Mr. H ordered The Campus "Cuban" ($8.50). Dining Deals Alert!

We both agreed that the version at Moncho's from an earlier 2015 To Dine visit was slightly better, but this was a darn good Cuban sandwich for Cleveland.

I had to order something totally new-to-me, the House Mofongo ($9.50). These fried plantains are mashed together and molded with garlic, olive oil, and pork cracklings. You can add meats for an additional charge. I selected pork shoulder (+$2), and the center of the mold was stuffed with the pulled meat.

It was sweet from the plantains, full of garlic flavor, and salty from the meat. I was thoroughly enjoying this dish! It was unlike anything that I've had before. It was also huge. I took more than half of it home with me, and didn't even touch the salad until the next day. I appreciated that the salad dressing was served on the side. Don't you love the little flag too?

This was a big hit with us, and one that we'll revisit. They are also known for their split rotisserie chicken, so we'll have to give that a try.

The 2015 To Dine Challenge ended on a high note. You guys picked well last year!

Some highlights from the 2015 list included: Campus Grille, Thai Elephant, Forage Public House, Gigi's on Fairmount, and Moncho's. A couple of the restaurants on the list we've even  already been back to this year, like Grove Hill, Forage, and Bourbon Street Barrel Room.

It's not too late to make some last-minute suggestions for the 2016 To Dine Challenge list, so don't forget to head over to the blog post to comment before 12/31. Let's put together another outstanding list like 2015. What a year! I hope that you enjoyed following along as I visited all 10 on the list.

Campus Grille
10 Seminary Street
Berea, OH 44017