Muscle Maker Grill Focuses On Nutrition, Calories

In the fast-food nation we live in today, it's unusual to come across a restaurant focused on nutrition and calories. But Muscle Maker Grill, which opened the end of May at 10 Park Street, does exactly that—it focuses on the customer's health.

And the restaurant does it without sacrificing taste.

Muscle Maker Grill started from a single restaurant in 1995 but has spread to include about 40 restaurants in New Jersey and countless more in other parts of the country including several in Florida and Texas.

The one in Montclair takes the place of what was once Mexicali Rose and is located just off Bloomfield Avenue.

The inside of Muscle Maker Grill is, at first, a bit disconcerting with its in-your-face red walls and noisy flat-screen televisions. There's no art on the walls—only photos of the chain's various food offerings. Even the menu is a bit off-putting, filled with dishes tagged with names like Rocky Balboa and the Godfather.

But the food itself makes up for any other shortcomings. Salads are made with lean turkey and chicken nuggets aren't fried. The Godfather, too, is a low-carb treat accompanied by broccoli and roastsed red peppers. The Godfather has 335 calories and is priced at $9.99.

The menu is full of appetizers such as Texas chicken nuggets—at 284 calories and priced at $4.99—and edamame—at 120 calories and priced at $3.75.

The Tex-Mex Fajita Wrap, at 635 calories and priced at $7.99, came with a nice choice in sides that included rice, potatoes, or a Caesar salad.

It was, in short, packed with flavor.

There's also a nice selection of filling protein shakes such as the Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake at 390 calories and priced at $6.50.

Muscle Maker Grill delivers, provides take out, and also offers a catering service. For example, you can buy assorted wraps for a party at $9 per person. Other nice perks: free Wi-Fi and gluten-free salad dressings.

The chain's motto: "We're serving great food with your health in mind."

From what this Montclair Patch editor saw, the motto is right.

Have you tried Muscle Maker Grill? What did you think? Let us know in the comments section below.