Tow Trucks and caution tape lined the back of Walmart’s parking lot as a new building took form, and owners hoped it would be the latest hot spot in town.
For months, Greenwood citizens wondered what mysterious building was under construction, primarily due to the construction creating issues with getting in and out of the parking lot.
After a while, a new sign appeared at the side of the street near the newly built, modern shell of a building. It was an Aspen Creek Grill hiring sign, which left me intrigued. I had never heard of the restaurant before, so I was already excited to visit it before I was given a reason to do so. Like many others, I hoped that this restaurant would be worth the traffic hassle it caused in the parking lot, and already, based on the outside, I was impressed. Aspen Creek adds a modern touch to a once bland space because of its farmhouse chic. Entering the newly sectioned-off outside space, my friend, senior Aleidha Rendon-Limon, and I were excited to try the food.
The restaurant’s hours are 3-10 p.m. daily, so Aleidha and I left right after school to arrive at opening time. As we entered, we saw a spacious, well-decorated lobby. It was sleek with lots of dark brown and black wood, and a large hostess station centered in front of the doors. The lights were a warm dim yellow, and the chic farmhouse aesthetic definitely carried through the restaurant. There were frames of “Aspen Creek Festival” photos or polaroids that minimally decorated the walls. A large bar was also in the center of the restaurant, and dispersed TVs were placed throughout the space. The servers and hosts were kind and showed genuine hospitality, making the space so welcoming. Our waiter gave us a great rundown of the menu and even offered suggestions on their specials and the restaurant’s most popular items.
The most popular item was the Pow Wow Shrimp. It is a dish that consists of 12 breaded shrimp with a sweet and tangy sauce over a bed of either cabbage or rice. Though the shrimp is an appetizer, some order it as a meal because rice is pretty filling and costs $10.99. We ordered the shrimp with cabbage as our appetizer.
There were standard soft drinks, iced tea, or lemonade for drink options. However, this slushie that they could serve as a virgin drink makes their options stand out. I kept it simple and got an unsweetened tea. Then our waiter gave us a couple of minutes to go over the massive menu with many different food categories.
Their most popular items had little symbols near them, so I ordered the Hot Habanero burger, which came with a cajun-seasoned burger patty, mayo, pepper jack cheese, and habanero relish, and I upgraded to a side of garlic aioli fries for $14.99. Aleidha ordered the Angry Byon burger with crispy fried onion rings on it, bleu cheese, and buffalo sauce with a regular side of fries for $13.49. The shrimp was the first to arrive at our table. We both tried it, and it was delicious. It had a light, flakey breading and a pretty good flavor. It has a minimal kick that compliments the sweet, tangy sauce. So, we rate it a 9 out of 10.
Once the burgers arrived, we decided to split them so we could both give an honest opinion. Initially, we both concluded the burgers lacked seasoning. The flavor combinations were not bad, and though both of these burgers are advertised as spicy, they are not too spicy, so someone with a low spice tolerance could indulge in both of these options. The patties were juicy. The garlic aioli fries were not overpowering in the garlic flavor and were enjoyable and crispy. The original fries were also good, but they are just the standard restaurant-style fries.
Overall, the restaurant was very clean, and the service was excellent and fast. Although we did come right when it opened, service may be slower at busier time. Also, the management gave us a free appetizer for our next visit. All staff members displayed genuine hospitality and created a comfortable environment, so I suggest others take the time to try it.
