By 1808Delaware
A familiar name on the central Ohio food truck scene has pulled into a permanent spot as it continues its journeying.
Grateful Griddle, known for its smash burgers, hearty sandwiches, and Grateful Dead-inspired personality, has officially opened its new Powell location at 4052 Presidential Parkway, at Presidential Sports Club. The move gives the longtime mobile operation a brick-and-mortar home, complete with a convenient walk-up window, while the food truck continues to serve private and corporate events around the Columbus area.
The new location marks a significant step for a business that built its following on the road. Grateful Griddle describes the Powell opening as the next stage in its journey from food truck to permanent restaurant, bringing its psychedelic aesthetic and rock-and-roll references along for the ride. The business is also offering takeout and delivery.
Smash Burgers Lead The Lineup
The house specialty is right there in the name: food cooked hot on the griddle, with smash burgers at the center of the menu. The Buckeye Smash Burger pairs Angus beef with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce on a brioche bun. It is priced at $13 for a single and $15 for a double, with fresh-cut fries included.
Other choices push further into Grateful Griddle’s personality. The Jack Straw BBQ Bacon Smash Burger comes with white cheddar, bacon, grilled or fried onions, and barbecue sauce. The Fire on the Mountain Smash Burger turns up the heat with ghost pepper cheese and frisky sauce, while the Mushroom Swiss and Friso Melt round out the burger lineup.
The names are part of the point. Grateful Dead references run through the concept, giving the restaurant a distinctive identity that carries over from the food truck into the permanent location.
More Than Burgers
The Powell menu stretches well beyond patties.
Sandwiches include fried chicken, buffalo chicken, chicken and steak Phillys, chicken Parmesan, fried bologna, a BLT, hot ham and cheese, and grilled cheese. The Steak Philly comes with chopped steak, provolone, peppers, onions, and mayo on an 11.5-inch Amoroso roll, while the Fried Chicken Sandwich adds white cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on brioche. There are also chicken bacon and chicken Caesar wraps, along with house and Caesar salads.
For smaller bites and sides, the menu includes mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, pretzel bites with beer cheese, fried pickle chips, chicken tenders, fresh-cut fries, and loaded fries topped with beer cheese and bacon. Buffalo Chicken Dip Rolls wrap house-made buffalo dip in wontons before frying them and serving them with ranch.
Wings are available in six- and 12-piece orders, with sauces including medium buffalo, hot buffalo, Nashville hot, barbecue, hot honey, and sweet red chili.
A Food Truck Story With A New Address
Even with a permanent location, Grateful Griddle is not leaving its mobile roots behind. The company continues to market its food truck for weddings, corporate gatherings, and other private events, while the Powell location creates a regular destination for customers who previously had to catch the truck on the road.
The business says it emphasizes premium ingredients, community connections, and a setting influenced by classic rock and Grateful Dead culture. Its official site frames the new location as the culmination of its journey from a food truck to a permanent home. For Powell diners, that journey now has a fixed destination.
Grateful Griddle is located at 4052 Presidential Parkway in Powell, at Presidential Sports Club. The full menu is available through the restaurant’s website.
