Published: December 02, 2005 05:33 pm            

Sondy's Sycamore Grille

Although Sondy’s Sycamore Grille (MAP) has a solid reputation for its certified Angus Beef steaks, owner Sondy Chism hopes people notice the rest of her menu. It boasts not only steak, but seafood, an extensive appetizer menu and assorted saute items, sandwiches and pork and chicken entres.

Not only can folks enjoy an upscale dinner in a comfortable setting, but they can also enjoy the variety of beverages the restaurant offers from its full-service bar, Chism said. The bar has about 100 imports, normal domestics and there's Michelob Amber Bock and Guinness on tap. Folks who like martinis should check out Chism's martini book, which contains about 150 choices.

"They are real popular around the country, ever since the cosmopolitan got popular, they started drinking martinis," Chism said.

The Grille also serves a variety of sauted items, sandwiches, and pork and chicken entrees. The Heart Healthy Salmon, a char-grilled Atlantic salmon, is a popular fish entree. During lunch, the restaurant's Hot Fried Chicken Salad, which contains strips of fried chicken tossed in honey mustard and served with fresh fruit and bread, has been a hit for years. Crab cakes, made with Chism's recipe, are a popular appetizer, and pork chops are a dinner favorite.

Besides the Angus beef, Sondy’s famous dish is Nutty Grouper. The fish is lightly breaded with crushed walnuts and reggiano cheese and baked until done. The sauce is a secret recipe, but includes fresh fruits like pineapple and cantaloupe. Rum is added to the sauce which is heated and then served on the side for customers to spread over the fish. It costs $16.95 and comes with Bread with cinnamon honeybutter, and choice of vegetable, salad, and potato or rice pilaf.

There are plenty of historical features in Sondy’s. Look around the Grille and you'll find Kokomo history. The front door and amber glass panels are from the original First Presbyterian Church. The telephone booth is made from the four doors from the second floor of the Elks building in Logansport. Some of the fish around the restaurant came from Key West. The bird heads in the booth area are papier mach and were used in the 1925 civic opera production "Snow Maiden" in Chicago. The table across from the bar is an old banker's table that came from Howard County National Bank. On top of the bar is an original RCA Nipper, made from paper mache in the 1950s. The decorative Frieze in the front of the ceiling of the New Yorker Room was originally in the Palmer Jewelry Building. The Globe Stove was built in Kokomo in 1915. Kokomo artist Jonathan Russell created the mural on the wall.



LOCATION: 113 W. Sycamore St. (MAP)

HOURS: Mondays through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; closed Sundays.

FARE: Steak and seafood

SMOKING: The dining area is non-smoking and the bar area is smoking.

LATE NIGHT DJ: A DJ plays every Friday and Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Music is a variety of tunes from the late 1960s to contemporary music. The DJ mixes the music to fit the crowd. There is no cover.

SPECIALS: There are $5.95 lunch specials every day and always a soup-of-the-day. The dinner special changes daily.

ESTABLISHED: 1994

BANQUET ROOM? There is a banquet room that is available for private meetings and gatherings. It seats 32 comfortably for dinner. Call (765) 457-2220 to rent it.

CARRY OUT: Yes, call ahead at (765) 457-2220.

        

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