Salads

Greek Salad from Axels River Grille in Mendota

River Grille Greek Salad

This dish was served at Axels River Grille in Mendota, Minnesota, in the 1990s.
Servings: 10
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Dressing
  • 2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ c. minced garlic
  • ¼ c. lemon juice
  • 1/2 c. red wine vinegar
  • ½ c. fresh oregano, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. salt
  • Pinch pepper
Salad
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 1 red onion, Julienne cut
  • 1 cucumber, sliced
  • 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
  • 1 c. crumbled feta cheese
  • 20 kalamata olives
  • 4 pepperoncini pickled peppers

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, combine the olive oil and garlic; heat for 10 minutes, making sure it doesn't boil. Cool to room temperature. Add lemon juice, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix well.
  • In a large bowl, combine the lettuces. Add red onion, cucumber and tomato wedges. Toss with dressing.
  • Crumble feta cheese over top. Garnish with kalamata olives and cut-up pepperoncini.
Notes
Dressing makes 3½ cups. Refrigerate any leftovers for later.

About Axels River Grille

Location:
Mendota, Minnesota

Status:
Permanently closed

Dates active:
1996-2024

The Parker House opened as a bar and gambling hall in the late-1930s. The original owners, Willard “Buck” Parker and his wife, Alice, ran the establishment in a building on the main street of Mendota, Minnesota, that was once a Buick dealership. 

This strategic location on the main drag made it easily accessible to soldiers from nearby Fort Snelling. The influx of young, single men at the fort as the United States geared up to enter World War II, the Parker House began selling food along with their usual offering of beer, spirits, slots, and dice. 

In 1943, jazz pianist William “Red” Dougherty purchased the business from the Parkers. He did away with the gambling (at least officially), and brought in top musicians from across the country to play at the Parker House. By the end of the war, the Parker House had a reputation for fine dining and great music.

When Red passed away in 1982, his son Bill took over the restaurant. Business dipped throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, but the restaurant continued until 1993, when it closed for good.

A short time later, the site was purchased by Linda Young and Charlie Burrows. Linda’s parents both worked at the Parker House (her mother was the head chef), and Linda had practically grown up in the restaurant. 

Together, the partners remodeled the building and opened Axel’s River Grille. It found its footing as a supper club-style steak house in a historic town and garnered much acclaim. The owners claimed that Axel’s was a continuation of its predecessor, standing on the shoulders of the Parker House as it made its way through the rapidly changing restaurant business. 

Linda and Charlie went on to open several other successful restaurants, including several more Axel’s around the Twin Cities. Linda died in 2018, but Charlie still operates several existing and new restaurants.

Axel’s River Grille closed for good on September 30, 2024. As of the time of publishing, the fate of the old Parker House site is unknown.

Gallery

Tags