North Street Grille Lends a Hand to Hungry People

Robin Sidell, a resident of the North End for the past 15 years, opened North Street Grille, located at 229 North Street, eight years ago.

"I started my first restaurant with my brother," Robin said. "It was called 'South Street Diner' on South Street in Boston."

"We worked together there for nine years and my brother still has the diner," she said.

But Robin wanted to start a new kind of restaurant and in the North End.

"The North Street Grille's cuisine is basically American," she said. "I can change the menu seasonally which allows me to be more creative."

Robin said she tries to create a neighborhood feeling at the North Street Grille.

"Any time customers come in, they seem to know each other," she said. "That's what I love about this business -- a lot of customers have become friends over the years."

For Robin, it is satisfying to know that people enjoy her establishment because they become repeat customers and her personal friends.

Every year since establishing her restaurant, Robin has hosted a holiday party to benefit Toys For Tots.

"This year -- being in the restaurant business and surrounded by food, I thought it would be a good idea to expand and help hungry people," she said.

Her drive this year is to benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank. The food drive ends on Sunday, December 9.