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The City Grill is located on the corner of Westmorland Avenue and Main Street (130 Westmorland Street). Newly opened, the restaurant is open Monday to Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m.
Fat Guy’s verdict:
Most people in the Greater Moncton Area are familiar with The City Grill’s location. It’s in the same space that Boomerang’s used to occupy. But it’s obvious when you walk in that things have changed. The entire space got a facelift, walls were ripped out, the Australian themed decor was completely overhauled and replaced with some art deco inspired prints and funky lighting.
In other words, the place looks posh.
I was very excited to try out City Grill; I’d heard a rumour on the street that the new chef Luc ‘Luciano’ Castilloux (who once worked at Rouge) had been hired. And this guy is a chef worth following. Even though The City Grill has only been opened for a few weeks, I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed. The other, Fatter Guy required some convincing. He wanted to give the restaurant a chance to work out the kinks in their menu before critiquing it. So I went out on my own and then told him to go.
And was I ever delighted.
Each menu item was interesting. It was hard to make a decision, but I opted for the homemade seasonal soup of the day which was creamy broccoli. So rich it could have been served in a small bowl one-fith the size that was presented to me. But I still managed to finish every last bit. This I followed with a classic caesar salad available in
two sizes for $4.75 and $6.75. The fresh shavings of parmesan and smattering of garlic made it one of the most flavourful salads I’ve had in a while.
For my main course, I ordered asparagus and cheese ravioli in a tomato cream sauce topped with ricotta cheese and scallions. I ordered the smaller sized platter ($12.25) though I could have ordered the larger dinner platter ($15.25).
Like my caesar salad, many of the items on the menu are available in two sizes, which is a great option for those who are tired of leaving behind leftovers. Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe the dish, and I wished at once that I’d ordered more.
Much of the food is entirely homemade, from scratch. And the grilled meals are cooked over a charcoal grill which produces an open flame and keeps all the flavour locked in.
There’s nothing bad to say about my experience at The City Grill. The service was flawless and the food delicious, this Fat Guy gives it a 10/10.
Fatter Guy’s verdict:
Walking into the City Grill, I was immediately struck by the dark wood décor, the dim lights and candlelit ambiance. Moncton’s newest grill was pretty packed and conversations flowed throughout the building. It seemed like the type of place where everyone was enjoying their meal, and enjoying each other’s company.
It looks nothing like its predecessor Boomerangs, but still has a few mementos from that restaurant’s past (like the Aussie type greeting in the coat check area). The menu is varied and it boasts many local products, fresh ingredients and special procedures (like grilling items on a charcoal grill) to boost your dining experience.
Again, I was adamant about going here; I don’t think hitting up newly opened restaurants is the fairest tactic, as often the kinks aren’t fully ironed out. But my mouth is watering as I type this, so you can easily assume where this one’s heading.
Our server was pure pleasure. Being the indecisive people my dining partner and I are, she charted us in the right direction on every question, and was savvy about the food and wine selections.
I ordered the stuffed chicken breast ($18.95) with a side caesar salad (it was an extra .99 cents to substitute the salad in there). The stuffed chicken was fantastic. Loaded with spinach and goat cheese, and topped with something delicious I didn’t get the chance to write down – it was full of flavour. The chicken was well-cooked and was just the right portion size.
The plate was nicely presented with some fresh veggies and the caesar was served on a separate plate (which makes me feel like I got more of it).
One of my usual critiques lately has been the lack of flavour at restaurants, but the City Grill has flavour and then some.
You all know how much I love caesar salads and how I hold the treat to a certain high standard, evaluating real vs fake bacon bits (a serious faux pas) and other such characteristics. I have to give the City Grill props as the Moncton area’s best caesar salad I’ve ever had, if not for the freshest tasting lettuce, but for the powerfully flavourful
dressing. It packs a punch with fresh garlic and even has some onion thrown into it. (My only complaint was that the two bacon strips (real) were lying cold on top of the salad. I’d expected freshly fried bacon, not pulled from the fridge and microwaved – which it seemed to be).
I honestly can’t stop thinking about how good the salad was. It had to have been made with their very own dressing as it was not the bottled creamy
caesar variety, which was very refreshing.
I also ordered the banana cream pie ($6.75), which was a nice way to end the meal, but I could have done without the nuts.
This was a great meal, the kind that you eat and enjoy, but don’t realize how full you are until you stand up. I can’t wait to go back.
I give the City Grill a strong 9.5/10.

E-mail the Two Fat Guys at thetwofatguys@gmail.com