Hot Rod Grille

A passion for hot rods spurred the creation of Hot Rod Grille, the popular restaurant-bar at 1231 American Pacific Drive in Henderson. Owners Randy Donald and Paul Wells designed the car-themed venue to fit in with their Hot Rod Hill auto plaza, and the Grille's decor reflects their interests: a 1932 Deuce Coupe and 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air are suspended above the bar, replicas from the film "American Graffiti." There's also a mural on the back wall of the bar, painted by Kenny Youngblood, featuring a scene from the movie. In a corner of the dining room, a candy-apple red 1962 Cadillac convertible stands on end with a large-screen TV set in it. Cad-Kong, an 18-feet-tall combination merchandise display and waitress stand at the center of the restaurant, is designed after a 1959 Cadillac. The restaurant also offers patio dining and a banquet-party room on the second floor. The upstairs area has a feel of a huge game room, and it's decked out with billiards, video games, ample seating for your gathering and more. It's the perfect venue for a holiday party, celebration or just a get-together with friends.On the food side, chef Charles Gruber took American cuisine typically found in a bar and added Southwestern flavors to some dishes. The menu was designed before he came on board, but Gruber put his personal touch on it because of his love of Southwestern cuisine. "There's a lot you can do with it, " Gruber says. "It's like Mexican food on steroids. I like unique flavors and spiciness, and I don't like to do the same thing over and over again." It's on the entree portion of the menu where Gruber, a former chef at the Rio, gets to put his own spicy twist on the menu. A Cajun burger is an example of the variety of burgers; plus there are sandwiches, wraps, pastas and numerous pizzas.The restaurant also serves breakfast items and a children's menu.