I love a signature menu item. If a restaurant offers something unique or well-known, I’m probably going to order it.

The grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich ($8) at Grand Ledge’s Arms & Embers Grill is a perfect example. I would normally never order something like that, but my amateur internet research suggested this item would blow me away.

Mr. She Ate and I were able to sneak off campus (what I call leaving downtown Lansing) for lunch one recent weekday and headed to Grand Ledge. At 11:50 a.m., Arms & Embers was empty, and our server gave us breakfast menus. Befuddled, I asked for lunch menus, which were quickly delivered. We ordered immediately since I knew I wanted the PB&J, and Mr. She Ate couldn’t resist the smash burger ($16). We also knew we had to traverse counties in order to be back for our afternoon engagements, so time was of the essence.

The food was delivered quickly. The bread on my sandwich was perfectly toasted and made me think of the popular ASMR videos on social media. Dragging my fork tines lightly across the surface of the bread created the most satisfying crispy sound, and the peanut butter slowly oozed out, slightly warmed from the grill. The sandwich was made more substantial with the addition of sliced bananas, a perfect pairing. Strawberry jam and a honey-mascarpone schmear rounded it out. This was not a sandwich I would typically order, but as the restaurant slowly filled up with the lunch crowd, I noticed that every table had a diner that ordered it. Although I considered that a savory note, like a slice of bacon, would be nice, I also know that if I’d been offered the addition of bacon, I would have passed. This sandwich is a signature item for a reason: It’s addictively good.

Mr. She Ate chose the classic smash burger ($16) and loved it. The bun was toasted, and it was topped with pickle slices and actually melted cheese. Both sandwiches came with fries, which were unlike any fries I’ve ever had. They were steak fries but flat. There’s no other way to describe them. Mr. She Ate loves it when a restaurant makes fries its own, and Arms & Embers has certainly taken that to heart. He loved them, but I was indifferent.

On a breakfast visit, we quickly ordered pancakes ($12) and a side of bacon ($4) for the kids, the Plain Jane skillet ($11) for me and the All-American platter ($15.50) for him. The pancakes arrived, and I knew they were going to be excellent. The edges were slightly lacy, having been grilled in what was likely butter, resulting in my favorite pancake texture. I grabbed a bite of my son’s pancake before he doused it in syrup and whipped cream, and it was as wonderful as my eyes suggested it would be.

My skillet comprised a sliced red potato base piled with eggs, cheddar cheese, gravy and chorizo. It was kind of a mess. The gravy was an unnecessary addition and was thick and flavorless. Mr. She Ate fared better with his enormous breakfast, which included three scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausage patties, two slices of toast, red potatoes and two pancakes. He ate it all, and considering he had just mowed the lawn in temperatures that could only be described as “inferno,” he no doubt needed it.

The kids’ bacon only came out after I questioned where it was, and it appeared to have been cooked the day before. Luckily, we weren’t charged for it because I would have put up a bit of a fuss.

If you’re on the west side of town or love a unique sandwich, the grilled PB&J is worth a trip. If you see me there, we’ll all be eating pancakes.