Last Friday, my husband and I were looking for somewhere casual and reasonably priced to grab a bite to eat. I had recently read about Lafayette Fire Company No. 1, a self-described “Firehouse Grill” in Lafayette Square that opened its doors last December, so we decided to give it a shot.

The grill is actually owned and operated by a group of firefighters and EMS workers, so the firehouse décor that adorns the exposed brick walls (axes, hoses, fire helmets, the works) is, in fact, authentic. Patrons also have the option to round their bill up to the next dollar to benefit The Backstoppers or Missouri Children’s Burn Camp.

Knowing the non-pretentious and philanthropic background of this restaurant ahead of time, I walked in really wanting to like it. I walked out with this assessment: it was just ok…

The atmosphere can best be described as a non-chain chain restaurant with a firehouse theme. While all of the plaques, photos, and paraphernalia hanging from the walls have something to do with firefighting, they give the place a very chotchkie-esque feel-not all that different from your typical Chili’s or T.G.I. Friday’s. The space is large and open with a central bar, a wall of booths, and tables scattered throughout two rooms. There are of course several flat screen TVs for sports fans, and the music playing was actually just a local radio station, complete with commercials. I think Salt-n-Peppa’s “Push It” came on at one point while we were there.

The menu is pretty standard American fare, including burgers, pasta, sandwiches and wraps, as well as a list of 10 entrees with classics like meatloaf, pork chops and fried chicken. They also have a pretty extensive breakfast menu that looked like it might be worth going back to try.

We opted for the most boring meals on the menu (but hey, they sounded good!): I got grilled cheese and my husband got a cheeseburger. While our meals were far from bad, they definitely weren’t anything to write home about. My grilled cheese was about as simple as it could be – bread and cheese – this was a no frills meal. It was also very bland. The same could be said for the cheeseburger, and the French fries that came with both meals. Ok, but nothing special. We decided that while the food was by no means bad, we could have made both dishes at home and easily come up with similar results – and let’s just say neither one of us is very skilled in the kitchen.

We weren’t bowled over by the food or the atmosphere, but Lafayette Fire Company No. 1 does have a few things going for it. The prices, for one, are extremely reasonable. All of the wraps and sandwiches are under $8.00, and the entrees are around $10.00. The only exception to this was that our 2 bottles of Guinness were $5.00 each, which seemed a little steep.

The restaurant is also a great place to go with kids- especially those who would get a kick out of the firehouse theme. There is a special “Lil’ Firefighters” menu that includes standard kiddie classics, and the atmosphere is very laid back. An occasional toddler running about or a crying infant would not attract annoyed stares from snooty patrons.

All in all, this isn’t the place to go for a trendy, unique or exciting culinary experience, but if you’re looking for something quick and casual or a fun place to go with the kids, it’s worth a visit.

Carlie is the Food and Drink Editor for Girls Guide, and also blogs at carliecrash.com. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly.  You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.