I recently went to eat at a new local restaurant. It is called Take a Hike and is located in downtown Rolla. The theme of the restaurant is, well, hiking. They have many fun outdoorsy decorations which add to the dining experience. Everything on the menu has fun names. For example, they call appetizers “trail heads”; salads are “trail mix”; sandwiches are “fanny pack sandwiches”; dinner meals are “day hikers”; burgers are “mountain burgers”; desert is, of course, “trail end”; and beverages are “camel backs.”

I asked the waitress what the most commonly ordered meal was, and she said smoked brisket, so that was what I ordered. I didn’t know what to expect, as that was my first time eating at Take a Hike, but I was not disappointed. The brisket contained smoked beef with grilled onions and provolone cheese. It was very good, and when I added Chipotle mayo to it, it was even better.

I also enjoyed a nice dessert. I ordered a whoopie pie, which was something I had never eaten before. It was a chocolate cake with cream in the middle, and it reminded me of an Oreo in the form of a cake. It was served slightly warm, which made it even more delicious.

The waitress that assissted me was very nice and considerate, and the service was great. She came and checked on my table many times during the meal. When I went, the restaurant was not very crowded. The dining area of the restaurant is on the smaller side, but that added to the cozy atmosphere.

As I dined, I could hear music playing quietly through the speakers. I personally liked this because it was at a volume that you could quite easily tune out if you wanted to, but it was also loud enough to hear if you wanted to just sit and enjoy it. The tables were spread out far enough that I couldn’t hear the conversations of the people at the nearest table, which also contributed to the peaceful ambiance.

All in all, I would recommend going to Take a Hike and experiencing it for yourself. You will not be disappointed. I certainly was not!