Founded by business tycoon Ted Turner,
Ted's Montana Grill offers down-home cooking in an upscale
ambiance. One restaurant opened at 21st and Tyler in
May, and a second will open July 26 on Webb Road at
K-96.
ON THE MENU: Ted's menu includes a selection
of 21 burgers, which can be made with either beef or
bison meat and a variety of toppings. Those same sandwiches
also can be ordered with a chicken breast instead of
beef.
Ted's also offers seven rotating "blue
plate specials" ranging from meat loaf on Tuesdays
to roast turkey and dressing on Sundays.
The dinner menu includes a variety of steaks, also available
in beef or bison.
DON'T-MISS DISHES: Ted's is upscale in
price and ambiance, but it sells the type of food you
expect to find in a diner - burgers, fries, onion rings,
chili, milkshakes.
Ted's succeeds at being something Wichita
is just not used to: fanciful comfort food.
Almost everything we tried was delicious.
Particularly outstanding is one of Ted's signature menu
items - bison pot roast served with mashed potatoes
and green beans. The meat was so tender it was falling
apart, and the mashed potatoes were smooth and nicely
seasoned.
That said, the 7-ounce beef and buffalo
burgers we tried were good. The blue creek served with
Maytag bleu cheese, bacon and mushrooms, was one of
our favorites.
The blue plate special also was a pleaser.
We tried Monday's chicken fried chicken with country
gravy. The meat was as big as the plate and not overly
greasy.
For dessert, we indulged in Ted's strawberry
shortcake, served with a flaky biscuit and topped with
ice cream, whipped cream and strawberries.
It's the details, though, that make Ted's
special.
The onion rings are big and perfectly
breaded. The fries are fresh-cut. The salads are made
from wedges of lettuce. Colas are served in glass bottles.
And before the meal, diners are served a bowl of complimentary
half-sours, which are cucumbers halfway through the
pickling process. They're deliciously different and
something I'd consider paying for if they weren't free.
AMBIENCE: Wood floors, mahogany paneling,
high-backed booths, jewel colored ceramic tiles, and
good lighting concepts combine to produce a comfortable,
upscale atmosphere.
SERVICE: Very good.