Offering good food, close location

By Maria Sullivan
Cardinal Staff

If you and your friends are looking for a new place to eat out, try visiting the new restaurant that opened this March: Ground Round Grill and Sports.
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Ground Round is located on the corner of U.S. Highways 14 and 61, the former location of Beier’s Family Restaurant. For those of you who do not know, Ground Round is a well respected restaurant chain that has 60 locations in 19 states.

When one walks into Ground Round, the environment is extremely welcoming. The restaurant is laid out into two dining rooms; one room is a sports bar lounge with a number of flat screen televisions, and the other room is strictly used for dining purposes.

The new restaurant offers a wide variety of foods for people with different tastes. Some items on the menu include pasta, seafood, soup, sandwiches and a large selection of desserts. Some people would agree that Ground Round has a similar feeling to Applebee’s.

As a college student, it is typical to wonder how much a meal at Ground Round would cost, but it all depends on what you consider expensive. When I ate there with my friends, my bill was close to $20, including the tip. I had a bowl of fettuccini alfredo pasta with chicken, a glass of pop, and an appetizer that I split with two other people.

“I enjoyed the atmosphere. It wasn’t loud – just perfect for enjoying a meal with friends. The food portion was awesome! But prices are a little high for a college student,” said senior Candice Norrell.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Ground Round, despite the high prices. I would definitely go again, but next time it would be for a special occasion. Either way, I encourage you all to visit the new restaurant at least once just for the delicious food.

Chula Vista offers poor atmosphere, worse food

By Becky Newby
Arts and Entertainment Editor

When the weather turns chilly, there’s nothing like a spicy Mexican entrée to warm you up. For tasty options, the cheap prices at Taco Bell come to mind for most; however, Winona does offer an alternative to the fast food option – Chula Vista.
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Chula Vista is located on 1415 Service Drive near Wellington’s Pub and Grill. The restaurant’s candy-colored exterior can be seen from the highway – even inside, the obvious Mexican theme is overdone. Hardwood floors and distant music give the restaurant an empty feeling.

The young hostess led my date and I to our booth. Moments later, our server arrived with tortilla chips and salsa. The tortilla chips were presented in a basket with an empty salsa dish resting on top. The server poured her jar of salsa into the dish. Immediately after, the tomatoes began floating to the top and the few springs of cilantro started to miraculously disappear. Even the store-bought tortilla chips were stale and bland.

Although the menu is filled with traditional dishes such as tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and burritos, there are few vegetarian options. After scanning the menu numerous times, my date and I decided on the chicken enchilada and the cheese quesadilla.

The chicken enchilada is a corn tortilla filled with chicken, cheese and vegetables, all covered in sauce. Unlike most Mexican restaurants, Chula Vista does not serve beans or rice with most entrées; four small enchiladas were presented to my date on a large white plate. Not only did the plate look empty, the enchiladas looked unappetizing.

The cheese quesadilla was presented with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole. The quesadilla tasted as though it was shoved in the microwave for 45 seconds – the tortilla shell was dried-out and the cheese wasn’t even melted completely. The lettuce had a brown tint, and the guacamole was tasteless.

At the end of dinner, neither my date or I had any left-overs and we still felt hungry. Together we spent approximately $25, not including drinks. Immediately after dinner, we jumped in the car and drove across the street to Taco Bell. By spending only five dollars, my date and I felt satisfied and full.

If you’re looking for Mexican food in Winona, I suggest dining at Tequila’s instead.

Chula Vista Mexican Restaurant
1415 Service Drive, Winona
507-452-8202

A great deal at the 'Great Hunan'

By Becky Newby
Arts and Entertainment Editor

Nestled between a sandwich shop and a bar on Third Street, Great Hunan’s front door is easy to miss. But don’t let the humble appearance keep you away.
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Once you find the door, you enter a cozy space with a coffee-shop-meets-Chinese-restaurant atmosphere. Cafeteria tables, dim lighting, Chinese-inspired artwork and a large fish tank decorate the one-room eating establishment.

While the ambiance may not impress you, the food, price, and portion size will. On a recent visit to Great Hunan’s, I ordered the Cashew Shrimp dish lunch special. Along with authentic egg drop soup, egg roll and drink, the price tag was a mere $6.25. Despite the reasonable price and the food’s pleasing taste, they didn’t skimp on the portion size or the service. The moment I finished my soup, the entrée was on its way to my table, and I even filled two take-out boxes with leftovers for later.

Specializing in Chinese food to eat-in or carry-out, the Great Hunan is open seven days-a-week. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and stays open a half hour later on Friday and Saturday, but closes at 8 p.m. on Sunday. All meals include a choice of soup; egg roll, chicken wings, or crab rangoon; and a beverage. Lunch specials, available from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., are $6.25. Dinner specials, available from 3:30 p.m. to close, cost $7.98. Delivery is free with a $30 order.

Located at 111 W. Third Street, Winona
507-452-1559