There's a lot to be said about a friendly, fancy-free place that has been doing brisk business for years, since 1983 to be precise, and The Courtyard Café measures up well. Dark woods, checkered floor tiles in the lobby and framed knick-knacks on the walls give the place a slightly retro feel, but the courtyard is constantly abuzz with activity manifesting a vivacious camaraderie amongst diners.

The gargantuan menu could prove to be a worthy challenge to the indecisive and covers plenty of ground starting with crisp Idaho potato skins, Cajun crab cakes and Mediterranean sampler of assorted cheese, meats, Greek olives, grapes and herbed flatbread. The grill theme is highlighted among house specialties with a substantial 22oz Porterhouse steak, Cajun-style lamb chops, veal liver and onions, and fiesta shrimp served on rice pilaf with sautéed tomatoes and scallions.

The rest of the carte could reveal soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, wraps and Angus burgers that merit exploration on future visits to The Courtyard Café.