You don’t have to book a night at the hotel to enjoy an evening of good American cuisine at Allie’s American Grill located inside Provo’s Marriott Hotel.

Stepping inside the lobby of the hotel we instantly felt we left Provo behind as we were seated in the restaurant, located in the lobby.

With no walls to give the restaurant its own domain, our dining experience was not too far from the check-in desk and right across from the gift shop.

We dropped by on a quiet Saturday night — quiet because the hotel’s main guests, the football team from Tulsa, were at LaVell Edwards Stadium at the moment playing a game against Brigham Young University.

Our waiter went above and beyond in friendliness, and though we went through three baskets of rolls before our food came, he happily offered more rolls and engaged us in friendly conversation.

The fluted glasses and cloth napkins lent an air of elegance to the restaurant, even though the house special includes simple comfort foods like a hamburger and chicken noodle soup.

We tried the large Marriott Burger, the Blackened Chicken Sandwich, Fish and Chips, and Chicken Noodle Soup.

The burger was juicy and tasty, and was probably a favorite of the football players because of its enormous size. A downside to the meal was the lack of side dish choices — the majority of the main dishes come with french fries.

The Chicken Noodle Soup was a hearty appetizer, good for children, and the large and plentiful chicken chunks were a tasty surprise. The chicken’s texture wasn’t quite as gratifying in the Blackened Chicken Sandwich, though the seasonings were spicy and delicious.

The true highlight of the evening was the Fish and Chips. The quality of the bright white, flaky fish was a mile above most other restaurants we’ve tried — including seafood establishments. The dish came with three fish pieces, which was plenty considering the size of the fish and the thinly battered layer on the outside. While many restaurants skimp on fish and are heavy on batter, Allie’s was a refreshing change.

With most of the dishes starting in the $9 range, Allie’s is probably a better choice for a quiet date than a large family gathering.

Next time we feel we deserve a vacation (from cooking that is) we’ll check in at Allie’s American Grill for its friendly service and incredible seafood.