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The Grill, located in the Fairpark District next to the Hilton Garden Inn, is the latest concept from the Eat With Us group based in Columbus. Eat With Us also operates Park Heights, Harveys and Sweet Peppers Deli. Park Heights is scheduled to open on the other side of the Fairpark at Main development on Oct. 30.

Tupelo's version of The Grill takes the best of the Cotton District Grill in Starkville and the Grill at Jackson Square in Columbus, according to Bernard Bean, co-owner of Eat With Us. First, the decor and color scheme in the 5,000-square-foot Fairpark Grill has been reversed from the previous locations, with the walls neutral and the accents colorful.

"It's our intent to remodel those to look like this," Bean said.

Fairpark Grill is defined by black leather booths, multi-colored light fixtures and blue tiles on the support columns, bar and kitchen. Bean says the restaurant has a "comfortable but classy with a hip, eclectic feel."

New look on menu
The food at the Fairpark Grill also is new to the company. Half of the menu is made up of the most popular items at the other two Grill locations, and Eat With Us' corporate chef Gregg Frazer created the rest.

The menu prominently features salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, calzones and chef specialties. In two days of trial runs at The Grill, Frazer and Bean said the most popular items have been the lobster ravioli, macadamia crusted Mahi-Mahi, Ahi crunchy salad and Baja fish tacos.

"The menu is kind of in an upscale brewhouse category," Frazer said. "It's a little more hip than your traditional American cuisine."

There's also a kid's menu, and take-out orders will start next week. Entree prices range from $6.99 to $18.99. Bean said the average ticket at the Grill is about $13 to $14, offering a middle ground between Peppers and Harveys.

In addition to the food, the Grill has a full service bar and a wine list. However, Bean said the restaurant's focus is on the food.

"We're a restaurant that serves alcohol," he said. "We're not a bar that serves food."

The kitchen at Fairpark Grill is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The bar stays open until 11:30 p.m. The Grill is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

BY CARLIE KOLLATH 

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