Say Hello To City Grill
Casa Moreno Mexican Grill and its owner, Mercy Moreno, have been beloved members of Downtown Covina ever since the restaurant’s opening in 1995.
As an active member of the Covina Chamber of Commerce, Moreno has carved herself and her restaurant spots in the collective heart of the community.
Well-known by regulars for her background in Puebla, Mexico and Casa Moreno’s traditional Mexican fare, it came as a surprise when Moreno opened up a new restaurant in 2015 (Casa Moreno’s 20th anniversary) that was unlike anything she had pursued before.
Located next door to Covina’s City Hall, City Grill Covina offers a diverse menu of “California cuisine”, inspired by the best of California.
Every meal is made fresh, never frozen, and with the best ingredients available.
At its base, it is all-American comfort food: burgers, salads, and flatbreads. However, City Grill takes it a step further and puts it own unique spin on each of the classic recipes.
The creamy artichoke dip, for example, introduces not only the familiar flavors of garlic, artichokes, and Parmesan cheese, but added elements of Ortega chili, thyme, and rosemary, then served with a side of toasted, perfectly crispy slices of baguette that seem to melt in your mouth.
Both children and adults alike will be delighted with the fried mac n’ cheese balls; creamy macaroni and cheese rolled and fried into a golden-brown ball of bread crumbs and served with a side of spicy marinara.
The burgers, handmade from a 4-way beef patty blend and cooked to order, are wholly satisfying in a way a proper burger should be.
Califas Burger ($13.99)
4-way beef blend patty, butter leaf lettuce, tomato, red onion, spicy avocado aioli, fried egg, bacon, and aged cheddar. Cooked to order. House French fries included with all burgers. (Montana Rose Levison/Logos)
The Califas burger is arguably the best example of California cuisine on the menu, stacked high with crisp bacon, a fried egg, butter leaf lettuce, and (of course) avocado.
The Deep Blue burger is a decadent blend of sautéed mushrooms, bacon, and melted bleu cheese. I’ve never liked bleu cheese in my entire life, so you can understand why I was so surprised to find how much I enjoyed it.
Airline Chicken ($17.99)
Grilled rosemary citrus marinated chicken served with string beans, and quinoa and brown rice. (Montana Rose Levison/Logos)
If you’re looking for a dinner entrée, I sampled the airline chicken and found it to be a fascinating combination of elements. Grilled, citrus marinated chicken with rosemary, green beans, quinoa, and brown rice, arranged and served rather beautifully. The chicken was cooked to perfection, a lovely color all the way through and incredibly tender and juicy.
The lemon garnish unfortunately made the citrus flavor a bit overwhelming, so I would perhaps recommend requesting easy on the citrus if you do decide to order this dish.
The salads are meals in and of themselves, diverse and colorful in their presentation. The wedge salad is a house favorite, iceberg lettuce served with bacon, cherry tomatoes, bleu cheese crumbles, red onion, hardboiled egg, and that ever-popular California avocado, topped with ranch dressing.
The Gorgonzola salad is a perfect choice for those looking for something sweeter, butter leaf lettuce tossed in sherry vinaigrette, topped with Gorgonzola cheese, apple slices, cranberries, and candied walnuts.
City Grill also offers a beautiful bar with a wide selection of wines and craft beers, both bottled and on tap. In fact, with their current “Pick 2 menu” available all day every Monday and Tuesday, you can try a number of these beers and wine with your choice of a burger ($12) or flatbread ($10).
City Grill seems to represent exactly what Downtown Covina is trying to reinvent itself into. It is eclectic and chic, decorated by Moreno herself with bright colors, mirrors, Christmas lights, and a wall of unusual clocks, as well as a brick wall with a maze of pipes and light bulbs; bursting with color and music without ever feeling overwhelming.
The servers are genuinely welcoming and eager to please, and can often be found engaged in friendly conversation with their customers.
The back patio is the hidden jewel of City Grill. Curiously unknown by most of its patrons, it is an excellent space for large parties, of which the restaurant hosts many. 
The small lights turned on at night create a beautiful atmosphere, as well as the two large fire pits that can be lit at request, making it a treat to eat outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of bustling Downtown Covina in the distance.
City Grill is at once both an ideal place to take a date for a romantic dinner for two and a local favorite to drink a beer and watch the football game. Perfect for having a glass of wine, quiet conversation, and excellent food.
