IN THE KITCHEN It’s hard to find a restaurant that boasts a fabulous raw bar, expert mixologists, an eclectic menu, and an upscale-urban-chic atmosphere. But Great Road Kitchen has all of those things, and much more. The place even has a tournament-size shuffleboard table that customers can use.
Since opening in late January, Great Road Kitchen has filled a large void in Littleton and surrounding suburbs, and has set itself apart from other eateries in this neck of the woods.
The restaurant is owned and operated by Marcus Palmer. He and chef Chris Frothingham go way back: They met over a decade ago while working with Todd English, and prior to opening Great Road Kitchen, they also worked together at Vine Brook Tavern in Lexington.
Great Road Kitchen prides itself on offering “approachable yet sophisticated American Cuisine,’’ and Frothingham’s menu aims to please. There’s pasta, steak, seafood, and plenty of vegetarian options. The raw bar features fresh oysters and shellfish from Duxbury, Cape Cod, and other locales.
There’s a wine list and a good selection of craft beers, and the bar is staffed by knowledgable bartenders who know how to make an excellent cocktail.
THE LOCALE Great Road Kitchen was one of the first restaurants to open at The Point, the new development that’s being built alongside Interstate 495. It’s located off of Great Road (Route 119) in Littleton. If you’re taking I-495, take Exit 31 to get there. It’s right off the exit.
The food is wonderful, and the restaurant is spacious. A wide range of relaxing music plays in the background, and the noise level isn’t too loud; you can have a comfortable conversation with someone without raising your voice. The music is wonderful: on a recent visit I got to hear Huey “Piano’’ Smith’s 1958 hit “Don’t You Just Know It’’ and a reggae version of “Take Me Home, Country Roads’’ by Toots and the Maytals.
The decor is retro chic and unique: vintage advertisements adorn the walls, and when you first walk in, you’ll notice an antique stove and cash register — artifacts that Palmer scored while treasure hunting in antique stores and salvage yards. Beside the shuffleboard table are wine lockers that are available for lease.
During the day, the space fills with sunlight. At night, the lights dim and the atmosphere is mellow. It’s a perfect place for a business meeting or date.
THE MENU Great Road Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner, and brunch is served on Sundays.
On a recent visit I tried the salmon burger ($15), which is huge and served with crispy shiitake mushrooms and sweet potato tater tots. My dining companion got the shaved steak sliders, ($10) which are three little sandwiches served on miniature burger buns with sharp USA cheese and caramelized onions.
Shareable plates include shrimp and pork dumplings served with ginger pear prosecco sauce ($10); spicy shrimp and hummus with za’atar pita ($13); and Bolognese meatballs ($12).
The baby arugula ($6) salad is plain and simple: a plentiful portion of fresh arugula tossed in lemon thyme vinaigrette dressing and sprinkled with parmesan reggiano cheese. It’s a zesty and flavorful start to any meal.
For dinner, the roast salmon ($22) is divine. The fish is tender and succulent, and served with fingerling potatoes and pearl onions soaked in Banyuls broth, which is very tasty. Other dinner entrees include porcini crusted turkey meat loaf ($19); 14 oz. New York sirloin ($30); scallop carbonara bucatini ($27); corn tortilla tacos filled with your choice of fresh fish ($17), charred steak ($15), or smoked tofu ($14); and many other options, too many to list here.
If you’re looking for a tasty meal in a cool atmosphere, GRK is worth checking out.
Great Road Kitchen is at 613 Constitution Ave. in Littleton; 978-952-7333, www.greatroadkitchen.com.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney.
