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BY LISA KAMPETER
It’s usually not a struggle to get the girls out for Dining Divas, but this past month, I thought I may be pushing it. I suggested a restaurant with a motorcycle theme and worried the Divas would visualize tattoos, leather, rough riders, and shots of whiskey. To my surprise, they jumped right in and were revved up to see what this leader of the pack was getting them into.

The featured restaurant was Triumph Grill located on Olive next to the Moto Museum in the city. Headlights, spokes, and hubcap chandeliers. Speedometers, motorcycle artwork, and a bike extended from the ceiling. Triumph Grill is far from a biker bar, but the kind of place that bikers and non-two-wheeled riders would enjoy.

Triumph Grill sits around the corner from the Fox Theater and Powell Symphony Hall. It’s a great call to stop in before a show for happy hour or a quick bite; however, their happy hour deals only apply when sitting in the bar. Once again, we were surprised as we sat at our table and were told we couldn’t get the happy offer specials because we weren’t at the bar. A real biker bar would break all the rules for eight women, especially when they were planning to spend more money.

This night, the Dining Divas decided to enjoy outdoor dining. Aside from the occasional “thump, thump” of the bass from a young driver’s car radio (the poor kid obviously doesn’t get enough attention from his parents that he needs everyone else to notice him), dining outside this night was extremely pleasant. We all took note of the bright sun setting over St. Francis Xavier and down Lindell this extraordinary evening.

It’s always a good thing when we look at the menu and can’t decide what to choose as there were so many things we wanted. For starters, we tried the Edamame “Hummus” made from soybeans and served with flatbread. The Picky Diva couldn’t get passed the color (as green as guacamole), but the Easy-To-Please Divas dove in. The Colorful Diva went a safer route and tried the Soft Pretzels with homemade potato chips. These pleased even the Picky one.

It’s a toss-up with the salads at Triumph. Some love them. Some compare them to others and say they just don’t compare. The Wedge and the Crispy Barbeque Chicken Ranch get high marks, but don’t be thinking California Pizza Kitchen’s Barbeque Chicken salad when you order the salad here. The Tortilla Soup and the Forest Mushroom and Leek Bisque hit the spot.

For entrées, the Mushroom Pasta with chicken and spinach was a good choice. The Creole Shrimp Penne with shrimp, andouille sausage, and bacon in a Cajun sauce was another favorite. The Southwestern Smoked Shrimp Enchiladas is a must to try as an appetizer or an entrée.

Triumph Grill has so many interesting options (like the Elvis in the House sandwich. You can guess what’s on it). We decided we’d definitely be back.

According to the Harley-Mama-Wanna-Be Diva, the only downside to the restaurant was the Triumph motorcycle-focus, a British-made bike. Yes, Marlon Brandon and Bob Dylan were cool and both may have loved them, but Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper knew what ruled. Harley-Davidsons. And they were the real easy riders. Even so, I believe they’d throw back a few whiskey shots at Triumph anyway. It’s that cool. (smoking only in the bar area)

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