Great tastes right off the grill

DINING OUT

You know it’s “hot off the grill” when you see flames leap above the

head of the cook at the stove in this busy cafe on Bolsa Chica open

daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The extensive menu covers breakfast, lunch

and dinner, but today we came for lunch along with a diverse

clientele from babies to retirees.

The free standing cafe with a patio on the corner of Bolsa Chica

Street and Heil Avenue, is an order-at-the-counter place -- friendly

and well coordinated with servers like our Linda circulating and

available when needed.

The servings are overwhelming! Half of my Chicken Kabob Plate

($6.50) is covered with fresh mixed greens, tomato quarters and

cucumber slices sprinkled with feta cheese while the other half is a

pile of hot crusty French fries. Laid across the plate are two

skewers of grilled chunks of white chicken tender as a mother’s

heart. It’s downright awe-inspiring.

My friend’s Gyro Plate ($5.95) has the salad and French fries with

a big warm pita bread sandwich stuffed with meat and spread with

tzatziki a yogurt cucumber and oil dressing. The gyro meat, a mix of

beef and lam, is molded on a vertical spit which when cooked is

carved off in thin slices for the sandwich. Like everything else

here, it is really big and can be ordered separately ($4.10) -- a

hand-held lunch for someone on the go.

According to Manager Oskar Martinez lunch at Hot Off the Grill

also offers veggie burgers ($3.10), great pastrami sandwiches ($3.95)

recommended by one diner or the popular Club Sandwich ($4.40), and

the children will love their menu of corn dog, grilled cheese or

chicken nuggets with fries and a drink ($3.10). A huge side order of

our favorite curly fries ($2.25) is recommended and easily shared.

The plates with shrimp, chicken or rib-eye steak are one way to go,

but it’s also very satisfying to come up your own a la carte combos.

The kaleidoscope of diners at Hot Off the Grill reflects the

variety and friendliness of Huntington Beach.

* MARY FURR is the Independent restaurant critic. If you have

comments or suggestions, call (562) 493-5062 or e-mail

hbindy@latimes.com