Last night my 7-year-old daughter and I had a girls' night out. Mika wanted to go somewhere nice, preferably new and within walking distance of our house. Let me tell you, that we didn't have that much of a choice. I suggested Luke's Grill because I knew they'd have kid-friendly food and because I hadn't been there in quite a long time (I'd forgotten about that lunch date with Mike about which I wrote above).

All in all we had a pleasant dining experience (though I had to spend the whole evening trying to get Mika to mind her manners). The food was OK, and the portions were very generous.

Mika had the child's spaghetti with garlic bread ($4.50). It was a huge portion, large enough for an adult, and she probably ate 20% of it. It came with a simple tomato sauce, and she did like it. However, I would not have her eating it again - it's hard enough for an adult to eat spaghetti properly. Pretty much impossible for a child.

I felt like pasta, and went for the ravioli with meatballs dinner ($13). This comes with soup or salad, and I had a small bowl of lemon chicken rice soup. Mika liked it, and I thought it was pretty good. I'd had it many times before (when I used to frequent Luke's Grill). The ravioli was served on a large plate, and the portion looked larger than it was, but I definitely was full after eating it, and I couldn't finish the accompanying garlic bread. The ravioli was full of meat, the meatballs pretty light and tasty enough. I wasn't won over by the simple sauce, however, I'd have liked more depth. But there was nothing otherwise wrong with it.

Service was good, though not remarkable.

That said, there is nothing special enough about Luke's Grill to make me want to go back. Now that restaurants have raised their prices into the stratosphere, Luke's Grill with its entrees mostly in the late teens doesn't seem as expensive as before, but it's still more expensive that Le Soleil, it's next door neighbor (http://www.marga.org/food/rest/soleil.html).

Would I go back to Luke's? Probably a long time from now to see if it's improved.

We went back to Luke's Grill a couple of months ago, as the restaurant participates in the San Leandro Education Foundation "Eat out for Education" program (through which the first Wednesday of the month, 10% of your bill goes to the Foundation - coupon required). Once we got there, we found a bunch of friends, also eating for the foundation. They were quite happy with their food, whatever it was. We shared on the eggplant appetizer, and I have to admit it was pretty good. The rest of the food (ravioli for me, some fish for Mike) was fine, but not special. The portions are pretty generous, however, given that they include soup or salad. I may go back in the next year, given that the restaurants that participate in the program are limited, and few are that good, but it's not high on my list.