Eating at the Energy Grille

on Route 35 in Middletown, recently also opened a location on Route 9 north in Freehold.  Coining the phrase, "The Taste Your Waist Will Love", the restaurant is true to its tagline.

Much of the ingredients are low-fat and whole wheat, with a variety of salads, paninis, wraps, burgers, and 10-inch whole wheat pizzas. Since I don't get to Middletown often, I decided to order a sampling of a few different menu items at once, all delicious, filling, and enough for leftovers.

Their salads all looked great, ranging from the traditional Chicken Caesar with light dressing and multigrain croutons, the Cobb Salad with Cranberries, grilled chicken, chicken bacon, blue cheese, romaine lettuce, egg, dried cranberries and low fat ranch, or what I ordered — the Chinese Chicken Salad.  

I have to say it was very tasty, made with grilled chicken, spring mix, romaine lettuce, pineapples, chinese noodles, sesame seeds, sprouts and oriental sesame dressing.

The "grilled low voltage" panini menu offered so many options I had to choose two. I ordered the Turkey and Gouda with smoked turkey breast, chicken bacon, smoked gouda, avocado, and "secret" dressing (which I believe is a type of chipotle), and the Cuban, with all natural slices chicken, smoked lean ham, pickle chips, swiss cheese, and chipotle sauce.  

The Chicken Pesto also caught my eye, with sliced chicken, provolone, tomatoes, red onions and basil pesto spread.  

In the wrap section, I was eyeing the BBQ wrap with grilled chicken, cucumber, onion, romaine lettuce, BBQ sauce, and low fat ranch dressing, or the Energy Chicken Meatball Parmesan with chicken meatballs, tomato sauce and low fat cheese.

But the South of the Border wrap was suggested to me, and I was not disappointed. It was made with grilled chicken, brown rice, guacamole, salsa, low fat cheddar, chicken bacon, and secret sauce.

While browsing the menu, I couldn't leave without ordering off the pizza menu as well. It had interesting options, like the "All You Can Meat" with pizza sauce, mozzarella, provolone, all natural ground bison and ground beef, and the Hula, with sauce, pineapple chunks, 96 percent smoked lean ham, and mozzarella. I was definitely in the mood for The No Sauce Pizza with low fat cheese, fat free ricotta, basil pesto spread and sliced tomato.

I was able to have a little bit of each menu item that I ordered and was very satisfied doing so. I definitley intend to go back and try other menu items, including their NRG Burger menu.  

They have unique options like the Ostrich Burger (96% fat free ostrich, guacamole, lettuce, tomato and onion) — but that's just not up my alley quite yet. I would definitely order the Turkey-BLT, (turkey burger, chicken bacon, lettuce, tomato, and low fat mayonnaise) the Salmon Burger (topped with chiptole sauce, avocado, tomato and lettuce), or the 100 percent all-natural Angus Burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion.

Energy Grille also offers full entrees and serves Red Bull energy smoothies, protein shakes and fruit smoothies. The entree menu is concise, offering the South of the Border grilled chicken platter, Ground Ostrich, Marinated Steal, or Ground Bison Stir Fry.

I would also like to try one of their smoothies one day on my lunch hour — the "Feel the Passion" smoothie with passion mango juice, banana, mango, and orange sherbet sounds good. 

All in all, there is a little something for everyone at Energy Grille, with a health- conscious benefit. They also offer a Kids Menu for those even fussier eaters, with every meal only $5.59, and offering simple classics like PB&J and Grilled Cheese. And, to boot, everything on the menu is gluten free. Now there REALLY is something for everyone.  

You can eat in, take out, or have them deliver, so just call Middletown (732-671-0088) or Freehold (732-294-9700) and visit energygrille.com.