Growing up close to the streets of downtown Ada provided me and many other residents in the area with the unique opportunity to watch a city begin to flourish. Watching, year by year, as a quaint strip mall became many beautiful brick buildings filled with beloved small businesses and restaurants, my expectations and anticipation for every new addition to the area have skyrocketed. 

I was beyond elated to experience one of the newest additions to the lively streets of the town, Ada Garage Bar and Grill. Instantly, I knew it would meet the high standards that Ada maintains. 

This restaurant, although very different from any other in the area, fits perfectly within the space it occupies. The idea of a bar and grill was an intelligent call to incorporate into the area, as many of the restaurants surrounding it have a lighter lunch feel. 

Walking into the restaurant, two things immediately transported me out of the hustle and bustle of the outdoors: the decor and the clamor of many eager and well-taken care of customers. 

The atmosphere of all of the well-selected furniture and fine-tuned structural choices added a whole new level of excitement to the experience. Immediately, it felt like stepping into a restaurant that had been standing on its foundation for many successful years—not just a few months. 

The aspects such as the wood paneling and warm-colored flooring made it easy to appreciate the effort that went into making the space feel homey and not like a rigid and cool new build. 

The customer service was just as fantastic as the decor placement. Each staff member I interacted with was both incredibly friendly and efficient when handling customers. Just as the restaurant felt it had been standing for an eternity, these employees felt as though they had held their positions for a lifetime. The added touch of connection created a whole new level of expectation for both future and current restaurants. 

The food matched the exact same energy. A chicken sandwich is somewhat of a staple for when I am embarking upon new restaurants, and their’s absolutely hit the mark. Surrounding me eating their own food, my friends and I fell silent enjoying our meals and absorbing the atmosphere around us. 

As we continued eating, my friends began to call out the parts they most appreciated about their meal. The hamburger buns were perfectly executed, and the ranch was at an ideal consistency. There were little to no complaints about anyone’s meals. 

Yet again, the same recurring theme of experience presented itself, this time on our plates. We all exited content with what we had ordered but left wanting to try the items we hadn’t yet gotten to consume.

Ada Garage Bar and Grill has the chops to fit the bill of historic downtown Ada. This restaurant will most definitely become a staple for many local families, as it fosters an atmosphere that could entice anyone to keep coming back. A trip back is most definitely somewhere in my near future.