And I lived to tell the tale.
I was at Brewser's Sportsgrille in Shamokin, where right now they have a deal where $5 gets you one of their really delicous burgers along with a heaping pile of their own homemade potato chips. The best value, in my opinion, is the Potbelly burger which is a nice, big beef burger topped with cheese and pulled pork barbecue.
But on this night, I opted for the Veggie burger instead. I am hardly a vegetarian or anything like that (not that there's anything wrong with that), but I figured I could go for at least a little bit of a healthier meal.
The verdict? Well, I find myself questioning where this burger came from. Okay, okay, I know I ordered it at Brewser's, but is this a homemade veggie burger? I doubt it. It was a bigger version of the same veggie patty that Burger King used to sell (and maybe still do) as the BK Veggie. I've tried a number of veggie burger varieties. My favorite would be a type I tried from Morningstar Farms that used Black Beans as its main base.
As far as Brewser's Veggie Burger goes, it's just a regular veggie burger, and it didn't stand out above and beyond any other veggie burger I've had. I put a ton of ketchup on it like I have almost every time I've tried one. It's a shame, because Brewsers has such good options on their menu, and I get the feeling that this item is simply there for Vegetarians, like a placeholder, so that they can say they have some vegetarian options (and I shouldn't be too mean, because they have some salads too).
All I can say is that I am glad I am not a vegetarian. I have dabbled with it before, but have never lasted long. Brewser's isn't the only restaurant that does this, in fact there's a lot that do. But if I was a vegetarian, I would be a little bored of the options that are out there, especially in this particular corner of the earth.
It wasn't the worst thing I've eaten, but it didn't make me do backflips, either. It was just kind of there.
Still love those chips at Brewser's, though.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
My plea to Wendy's in Shamokin
Hi there, Wendy's in Shamokin:
That's where you are. This was once a proud main street, filled with buildings, theatres, and stores of every kind. I hear stories from thirty or forty years ago about how we didn't need shopping malls or huge box stores like Wal-Mart in the area because you had everything you needed right on Shamokin's main street.
And that's where you find yourself situated, for how many years? 15? 20?
Look, those of us like myself who find themselves so busy with work that they realize that they haven't eaten since noontime at 9:00 at night are pretty much held hostage by the fact that you are the only restaurant open at that time in town. And to be honest, as far as fast food goes, you're not that bad. That's a little bit like saying, "as far as worms go, you're a pretty attractive pet," but you at least have some pretty decent chili and some semi-healthy options like decent-for-fast-food salads and baked potatoes. So about once a week, you're where I turn to when I get home at 9:00 and don't feel like cooking.
But consider this. Your service has been less than spectacular ever since I moved to Shamokin in the summer of 2011. I have a wife who, for whatever reason, doesn't like cheese. I know, I know- cheese is wonderful, and placed on a burger, it elevates the experience to a high plane of deliciousness. But for whatever reason, she doesn't like it. So when she doesn't get the grilled chicken sandwich, as she usually does, I will order for her a single without cheese. I will specify "without cheese". And you will get it right about half of the time.
About half of the time.
Now, as you know, Wendy's in Shamokin, I'm a baseball fan. You know, because half the time I show up to order food, it's in a Philadelphia Phillies t-shirt. As a baseball fan, I know that if a batter would manage to hit a baseball safely half the time, he would have a .500 batting average, which would be the most amazing thing to happen in that particular sport ever. In 2011, Jose Reyes led the National League with a .337 batting average. He was the most successful batter in the league in that respect, and HE ONLY SAFELY IT THE BALL 33.7% OF THE TIME. HITTING A BASEBALL IS HARD.
REFRAINING FROM PUTTING CHEESE ON A HAMBURGER IS NOT.
Your Cheese Refraining Average (CRA) should be .900 at least. I'd be okay if it was .800. But it's not. IT'S MAYBE .500.
Come on, Wendy's in Shamokin!
And while I'm ranting, let's talk about Tuesday. I was stressed out on Tuesday. I'm a pastor, and we had our council meeting. It was a stressful council meeting, and I drove back into town at about 9:00 feeling lousy. I stopped by your place on the way home and ordered two combo meals so that I could eat them and sleep the bad council meeting off. Or that I could eat one of them- Michelle would have the other. Though I probably could have eaten both and slipped into a food coma.
I got home, and Michelle discovered that you refrained from giving us fries. I calmly called the store, explained the predicament, and your manager told me to come back down and she would give me the fries. No problem.
So I went down, and I went into the store, and I explained to the counter person what happened. She says, "I don't know anything about it", and then she disappears. FOR FIVE MINUTES. I hear your workers talking, and they are MUMBLING ABOUT ME. It becomes obvious that they are annoyed because I showed up for my fries that I ALREADY PAID FOR AND SHOULD BE HOME ENJOYING BY NOW. INSTEAD I AM STANDING AT YOUR STORE WHILE THE REST OF MY FOOD GETS COLD AT HOME.
Finally, the manager showed up, looked me over, and verified that the story was correct. I have no idea why it took this long for that to happen. Then they hand me my fries without even an apology.
Come on, Wendy's. I know I shouldn't expect pristine service. I know your employees make next to nothing. I worked in fast food for eight years, and realize how soul crushing that whole deal can be. But still, I expect to be treated like a human being.
I know I did not pay a lot for my food, and that it wasn't the best thing for me to eat, but it was there at the moment and regardless of how cheap the food is, one should expect to simply be treated with basic human respect.
I know Shamokin isn't very good nowadays. I know you often have some crazy people in there. But come on, Wendy's. At least try.
That's where you are. This was once a proud main street, filled with buildings, theatres, and stores of every kind. I hear stories from thirty or forty years ago about how we didn't need shopping malls or huge box stores like Wal-Mart in the area because you had everything you needed right on Shamokin's main street.
And that's where you find yourself situated, for how many years? 15? 20?
Look, those of us like myself who find themselves so busy with work that they realize that they haven't eaten since noontime at 9:00 at night are pretty much held hostage by the fact that you are the only restaurant open at that time in town. And to be honest, as far as fast food goes, you're not that bad. That's a little bit like saying, "as far as worms go, you're a pretty attractive pet," but you at least have some pretty decent chili and some semi-healthy options like decent-for-fast-food salads and baked potatoes. So about once a week, you're where I turn to when I get home at 9:00 and don't feel like cooking.
But consider this. Your service has been less than spectacular ever since I moved to Shamokin in the summer of 2011. I have a wife who, for whatever reason, doesn't like cheese. I know, I know- cheese is wonderful, and placed on a burger, it elevates the experience to a high plane of deliciousness. But for whatever reason, she doesn't like it. So when she doesn't get the grilled chicken sandwich, as she usually does, I will order for her a single without cheese. I will specify "without cheese". And you will get it right about half of the time.
About half of the time.
Now, as you know, Wendy's in Shamokin, I'm a baseball fan. You know, because half the time I show up to order food, it's in a Philadelphia Phillies t-shirt. As a baseball fan, I know that if a batter would manage to hit a baseball safely half the time, he would have a .500 batting average, which would be the most amazing thing to happen in that particular sport ever. In 2011, Jose Reyes led the National League with a .337 batting average. He was the most successful batter in the league in that respect, and HE ONLY SAFELY IT THE BALL 33.7% OF THE TIME. HITTING A BASEBALL IS HARD.
REFRAINING FROM PUTTING CHEESE ON A HAMBURGER IS NOT.
Your Cheese Refraining Average (CRA) should be .900 at least. I'd be okay if it was .800. But it's not. IT'S MAYBE .500.
Come on, Wendy's in Shamokin!
And while I'm ranting, let's talk about Tuesday. I was stressed out on Tuesday. I'm a pastor, and we had our council meeting. It was a stressful council meeting, and I drove back into town at about 9:00 feeling lousy. I stopped by your place on the way home and ordered two combo meals so that I could eat them and sleep the bad council meeting off. Or that I could eat one of them- Michelle would have the other. Though I probably could have eaten both and slipped into a food coma.
I got home, and Michelle discovered that you refrained from giving us fries. I calmly called the store, explained the predicament, and your manager told me to come back down and she would give me the fries. No problem.
So I went down, and I went into the store, and I explained to the counter person what happened. She says, "I don't know anything about it", and then she disappears. FOR FIVE MINUTES. I hear your workers talking, and they are MUMBLING ABOUT ME. It becomes obvious that they are annoyed because I showed up for my fries that I ALREADY PAID FOR AND SHOULD BE HOME ENJOYING BY NOW. INSTEAD I AM STANDING AT YOUR STORE WHILE THE REST OF MY FOOD GETS COLD AT HOME.
Finally, the manager showed up, looked me over, and verified that the story was correct. I have no idea why it took this long for that to happen. Then they hand me my fries without even an apology.
Come on, Wendy's. I know I shouldn't expect pristine service. I know your employees make next to nothing. I worked in fast food for eight years, and realize how soul crushing that whole deal can be. But still, I expect to be treated like a human being.
I know I did not pay a lot for my food, and that it wasn't the best thing for me to eat, but it was there at the moment and regardless of how cheap the food is, one should expect to simply be treated with basic human respect.
I know Shamokin isn't very good nowadays. I know you often have some crazy people in there. But come on, Wendy's. At least try.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Polish Dog at Brewser's SportsGrille
 |
| Nothing better. Except maybe a Tony's Screamer. |
Look at this picture.
This is a hot dog, a very big one at that, covered in what we in the Region call "Halushki". You can look it up on The Google, but what you will find is many recipes, hearkening back to many of the Polish immigrants that once came and settled in Pennsylvania, that lead to making this wonderful dish of buttered dough, onion, egg noodles, and cabbage. Don't knock it until you've tried it.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me back up.
About two weeks ago, my wife and I went to Brewser's Sportsgrille, which I reviewed in one of my first entries on this blog. Brewser's was "so-so" back when I first reviewed it. Since then, however, I've eaten there many times, and I can say that they are adding dynamic new things to their menu, and their beer selection is second to none. The service has improved greatly, and I can say that now this has become one of my regular places. In the past year or so, Brewser's has become one of the best restaurants in Shamokin, if not the entire coal region itself. Some day I will get around to talking about my favorite thing on their menu, the Potbelly Burger. But for now, let's talk about that picture you see at the top of this entry.
One of the new menu additions the last time I was there was the Polish Hot Dog. I am sad to say that it is no longer on the menu, as it was a July specialty, but hopefully they will add it back at a later time. This was part of a $5 Hot Dog special, and for only an Abe Lincoln, you got what you see above. The Hot Dog was thick and juicy, full of a rich texture and a great salty flavor (but not overly so). This was not a cheap hot dog that you get when the Girl Scouts are selling 2 for $1 dogs outside of the grocery store. No, this was a good tasting, filling hunk of meat perfectly accented by the deliciously cooked halushki. There was so much halushki on this dog that I had enough to make a little side plate full of the stuff and still have plenty on the dog.
My mouth is watering every time I look at that picture above. I can't help it.
If anyone from Brewser's is reading this: PLEASE put this back on the menu. They had a number of specialty hot dogs on the menu that were a July-only selection, probably because it was summer and everyone associates a good hot dog with this time of year. At least I do. Sadly, as a limited-time only deal, as of August 1st this wonderful dough-and-cabbage topped piece of heaven is no longer available. Again, please bring it back, Brewser's!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Pamela's- Pittsburgh Area (OUT OF THE REGION)
Sometimes I feel upset that, due to where I live, I'm not very close to a lot of things. Living in Shamokin, I have to drive a half hour to work, most large cities are over an hour, and in general, if I want to do anything other than go to Wal-Mart, a drive is in order. It's not a huge deal, really- it's just the fact of the matter.
Recently I was in the Pittsburgh area for a wedding, and I met some friends for breakfast. My wife and I left our hotel and we gathered at this place called Pamela's. Pamela's is the kind of place that will make you jealous that you don't have this place near you. This is probably a good thing for me, though- if I could eat here more often, I would soon need bypass surgery.
If you have ever seen a show on either the Food Network or the Travel Channel, chances are that you have seen Pamela's covered. There are a number of locations around the general Pittsburgh area, and as I hear, they are pretty much all excellent. Pamela's is known for their absolutely huge pancakes, that are thin and large (they are referred to as "crepe style" on the menu) and, according to my wife, delicious.
But I had a real man's breakfast. I didn't settle for any pancakes or anything like that. No, I had the corned beef hash with some fried eggs and a side order of home fries. Yes, that's right- I had corned beef hash with a side order of home fries! As the kids on the streets say, "that's how I roll." Hopefully, this paragraph induced the appropriate amount of eye-rolling.
Seriously, though, the Hash was good. Nice crispy beef mixed with potato in a way that overloaded the senses and made me want more with each bite. I don't know how to put it in words. I want to make up a word not unlike Will Ferrell's portrayal of James Lipton in the old Saturday Night Live parodies of Inside the Actor's Studio. I'm not actually going to attempt that here, because anything I do would be inferior. Still, the Corned Beef Hash might have been the best I've ever had, and certainly beats the kind I try to make at home.
I got potatoes on the side, because I wanted to try Pamela's regular side in its purest form. These were almost as good as the version with the meat mixed in. One thing I noticed was that it was super buttery, which is great because it made it taste good, but bad in that I was checking my pulse the rest of the day to make sure a visit to the hospital wasn't in order. There was variety in this side of potatoes- some really crispy, but not overdone, and some soft, but not underdone.
Just thinking about this place makes me want to hop in my car right now and drive to the Pittsburgh area. Seriously, if you happen to be in that area, even for a night, you owe it to yourself to see where the nearest Pamela's is and get there ASAP. Forgo the free breakfast at the hotel. It will be inferior. Don't worry about the calories. You only live once.
If there was one complaint I had about Pamela's, it would be that it is a cash only place. Luckily, they had a big sign in front of the restaurant warning you of this, but I'm so used to paying for everything with my check card nowadays. Maybe they'll start taking plastic in the near future. So, if you do decide to treat yourself to this unique place, make sure you have some paper money with you.
As an aside- Pittsburgh has some great food, but is FRUSTRATING to drive around. There was construction when we were there, and I got turned around numerous times. Just be prepared and don't trust your GPS.
Pamela's
5813 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 422-9457
Recently I was in the Pittsburgh area for a wedding, and I met some friends for breakfast. My wife and I left our hotel and we gathered at this place called Pamela's. Pamela's is the kind of place that will make you jealous that you don't have this place near you. This is probably a good thing for me, though- if I could eat here more often, I would soon need bypass surgery.
If you have ever seen a show on either the Food Network or the Travel Channel, chances are that you have seen Pamela's covered. There are a number of locations around the general Pittsburgh area, and as I hear, they are pretty much all excellent. Pamela's is known for their absolutely huge pancakes, that are thin and large (they are referred to as "crepe style" on the menu) and, according to my wife, delicious.
But I had a real man's breakfast. I didn't settle for any pancakes or anything like that. No, I had the corned beef hash with some fried eggs and a side order of home fries. Yes, that's right- I had corned beef hash with a side order of home fries! As the kids on the streets say, "that's how I roll." Hopefully, this paragraph induced the appropriate amount of eye-rolling.
Seriously, though, the Hash was good. Nice crispy beef mixed with potato in a way that overloaded the senses and made me want more with each bite. I don't know how to put it in words. I want to make up a word not unlike Will Ferrell's portrayal of James Lipton in the old Saturday Night Live parodies of Inside the Actor's Studio. I'm not actually going to attempt that here, because anything I do would be inferior. Still, the Corned Beef Hash might have been the best I've ever had, and certainly beats the kind I try to make at home.
I got potatoes on the side, because I wanted to try Pamela's regular side in its purest form. These were almost as good as the version with the meat mixed in. One thing I noticed was that it was super buttery, which is great because it made it taste good, but bad in that I was checking my pulse the rest of the day to make sure a visit to the hospital wasn't in order. There was variety in this side of potatoes- some really crispy, but not overdone, and some soft, but not underdone.
Just thinking about this place makes me want to hop in my car right now and drive to the Pittsburgh area. Seriously, if you happen to be in that area, even for a night, you owe it to yourself to see where the nearest Pamela's is and get there ASAP. Forgo the free breakfast at the hotel. It will be inferior. Don't worry about the calories. You only live once.
If there was one complaint I had about Pamela's, it would be that it is a cash only place. Luckily, they had a big sign in front of the restaurant warning you of this, but I'm so used to paying for everything with my check card nowadays. Maybe they'll start taking plastic in the near future. So, if you do decide to treat yourself to this unique place, make sure you have some paper money with you.
As an aside- Pittsburgh has some great food, but is FRUSTRATING to drive around. There was construction when we were there, and I got turned around numerous times. Just be prepared and don't trust your GPS.
Pamela's
5813 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 422-9457
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Marrone's- Girardville, PA
So here's what you do:
After driving through either the dilapidated town of Frackville or the dilapidated town of Ashland, PA, you either take the Gilberton exit off of the Gold Star Highway (from Frackville) or turn onto Route 54 (from Ashland), and take in the sight of Girardville, PA.
It might not look like much, but there is a diamond in the rough in this town, other than Tony's Lunch (wave to Bernie on the way in if you're coming from Frackville).
If you happen to come on a Monday, you'll find some of the finest Italian dinners around- at half off the already reasonable menu price! Who says there's no such thing as a bargain anymore?
Listen, Marrone's isn't fancy. It's old fashioned. It needs a major, major renovation. The waitresses have plenty of "Coal Region" Attitude. But where else can you get a Chicken Parmesan dinner and a salad, and have your dining partner get a pretty substantial Baked Ziti dish, all for under $20? This is the Coal Region at its finest- good food a cheap prices. Even when it's not heavily discounted, on any other night than a Monday, this is still a pretty good place to check out.
As I said before, the decor doesn't look like much. It needs updating badly- old style wood paneling, smallish booths from decades ago, and too many tables pushed together. Some have complained of odd odors from time to time, but I haven't detected that myself. But honestly, nobody eats at a restaurant in Girardville because it looks nice.
The staff is friendly, and they give you a fair estimation of what it's like to be around someone's kitchen table for a pasta dinner. You might get some attitude, but these people really do care about their customers and there is a lot of care in the food.
The sauce in most of their dishes is a semi-sweet sauce. It's not as sugary as, say, the pizza sauce at Centiole's, but there definitely is a sweetness there. If you are a hardcore marinara aficianado, maybe this isn't for you, but there's not a sauce around like it and it is perfect when matched with grated parmesian cheese. My wife is definitely NOT a fan of sweet tomato sauce, but she does like Marrone's, so it must not be too sweet. The same sauce is also on their pizza, which is underrated and should be in the conversation of "best pizza in the coal region". As is the tradition around these parts, the pizza comes with hot sauce, which makes for an awesome sweet-yet-spicy combination.
I tend to get some kind of dish that features sausage at Marrone's, because I think that the sausage goes best with the sauce. It's another "sweet and spicy" thing.
Sadly, Girardville is like every other coal town in Schuylkill County. Things used to be better, times were tough, times are still tough, and times in the future will probably be tough. Still, Marrone's is a diamond in the rough in these "hard times".
If you do go on a Monday, they open around 5 PM, and you should expect a line of people waiting outside for the half price specials. Some will have come as far as an hour away.
If you want a good Italian dinner that is different from the norm, Marrone's is definitely a good choice.
Marrone's Cafe
31 West Main Street Girardville, PA 17935
After driving through either the dilapidated town of Frackville or the dilapidated town of Ashland, PA, you either take the Gilberton exit off of the Gold Star Highway (from Frackville) or turn onto Route 54 (from Ashland), and take in the sight of Girardville, PA.
It might not look like much, but there is a diamond in the rough in this town, other than Tony's Lunch (wave to Bernie on the way in if you're coming from Frackville).
If you happen to come on a Monday, you'll find some of the finest Italian dinners around- at half off the already reasonable menu price! Who says there's no such thing as a bargain anymore?
Listen, Marrone's isn't fancy. It's old fashioned. It needs a major, major renovation. The waitresses have plenty of "Coal Region" Attitude. But where else can you get a Chicken Parmesan dinner and a salad, and have your dining partner get a pretty substantial Baked Ziti dish, all for under $20? This is the Coal Region at its finest- good food a cheap prices. Even when it's not heavily discounted, on any other night than a Monday, this is still a pretty good place to check out.
As I said before, the decor doesn't look like much. It needs updating badly- old style wood paneling, smallish booths from decades ago, and too many tables pushed together. Some have complained of odd odors from time to time, but I haven't detected that myself. But honestly, nobody eats at a restaurant in Girardville because it looks nice.
The staff is friendly, and they give you a fair estimation of what it's like to be around someone's kitchen table for a pasta dinner. You might get some attitude, but these people really do care about their customers and there is a lot of care in the food.
The sauce in most of their dishes is a semi-sweet sauce. It's not as sugary as, say, the pizza sauce at Centiole's, but there definitely is a sweetness there. If you are a hardcore marinara aficianado, maybe this isn't for you, but there's not a sauce around like it and it is perfect when matched with grated parmesian cheese. My wife is definitely NOT a fan of sweet tomato sauce, but she does like Marrone's, so it must not be too sweet. The same sauce is also on their pizza, which is underrated and should be in the conversation of "best pizza in the coal region". As is the tradition around these parts, the pizza comes with hot sauce, which makes for an awesome sweet-yet-spicy combination.
I tend to get some kind of dish that features sausage at Marrone's, because I think that the sausage goes best with the sauce. It's another "sweet and spicy" thing.
Sadly, Girardville is like every other coal town in Schuylkill County. Things used to be better, times were tough, times are still tough, and times in the future will probably be tough. Still, Marrone's is a diamond in the rough in these "hard times".
If you do go on a Monday, they open around 5 PM, and you should expect a line of people waiting outside for the half price specials. Some will have come as far as an hour away.
If you want a good Italian dinner that is different from the norm, Marrone's is definitely a good choice.
Marrone's Cafe
31 West Main Street Girardville, PA 17935
Monday, June 4, 2012
Reading Terminal Market Mini Reviews!
I have been chomping at the bit to get to the Reading Terminal Market. I've seen it on television shows such as Bizarre Foods, Man v. Food, and various places on the Food Network. It's known as a foodie paradise- with a huge variety of foods from various cultures.
Being in Philly, it does have more than one place that will serve you a cheesesteak. But come on, you can get a cheesesteak anywhere.
So, having just spent some time in Philadelphia, here are some minireviews of the places in the Reading Terminal Market where I tried some of the deliciousness available there.
Before we begin, I want to make something perfectly clear: I ATE AT THE MARKET ON MULTIPLE DAYS. I DID NOT EAT ALL OF THIS STUFF IN ONE DAY, NOR DO I THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO SO. Okay, read on!
Dutch Eating Place: This place by far wins the title of "most obvious restaurant name." These are PA Dutch people who serve you various foods from that tradition. I suspect that most of these delicious dishes are high in fat, loaded with calories, and otherwise not appropriate for those dieting.
When I checked out this place on yelp.com, just about every other review spoke of the legendary Apple Dumpling. One comical review even spoke of simultaneously giving the reviewer diabetes and an arousing sensation. You can get it with either whipping cream or heavy cream. I went for the heavy cream, since it was pretty much milk in a cup, and I have always been of the opinion that apple pie and apple dumplings are best eaten with enough milk that you are essentially eating Apple Confectionary Cereal.
The Apple Dumpling was good. But honestly, when everyone talks something up like it is Sliced Bread Number 2, it rarely lives up to the hype. This is the way I felt about the Apple Dumpling at Dutch Eating Place. It was delicious, but at the same time, not as mindblowing as I expected. Honestly, I am still craving the Apple Dumplings you can get at the Bloomsburg Fair.
I also had the ham loaf special, which came with mashed potatoes and corn. It was a bargain at only $5.99, and you got two huge pieces of ham loaf in some sort of wonderful fruity glaze. To me, this was better than the apple dumpling. I love ham loaf, and this particular version was an adventure in taste explosions. I didn't so much care for the sides- the mashed potatoes and corn were both fairly ordinary.
On another day, I tried their Beef BBQ sandwich. See, everyone raves about the apple dumpling, but there's more to be fond of here at Dutch Eating Place. The Beef BBQ Sandwich should be in the discussion of best sandwiches you can have at the Reading Terminal Market. The BBQ sauce was obviously homemade, and it drenched hot, thick cuts of beef. It was also a bargain compared to the other food served at the market, and I should also say that it was HUGE.
So really, to me this is the best place at the Reading Terminal Market, at least so far in my journey through that cornucopia of food awesomeness.
DinNc's Roast Beef- So I went here expecting something incredible. Man V. Food's Adam Richman apparently had been here a few weeks ago, having previously covered the place in another episode of his show.
DiNic's is expensive at $10 a sandwich if you want provolone and broccoli rabe, but you also get a fairly big sandwich for that price which could be two meals for the average person. Also, expect to wait awhile- each day at the market, this was the place with the longest line. Searches on the net reveal that many believe this to be the best thing available in the market, if not in the entire city of Philadelphia.
So I waited a long time. I listened to the owner talk Flyers Hockey with the guy next to me in line. He seemed like a decent guy. But what did I get as a result?
Well, let's put it this way: maybe roast pork isn't for me. Everyone raves about the flavor, but to me, the only thing I tasted was the Provolone, which overshadowed everything. The pork had little to no flavor, and the vinagary taste you are supposed to receive from the rabe was simply absent. I have to admit, for me, DiNic's was a little bit of a letdown.
Maybe I should give this place another try. Maybe I had an underseasoned sandwich. But as it stands, the roast pork sandwich here is highly overrated.
The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company- The first thing we saw upon entrance to the RTM was this place, with its various cookies spread out, all looking delicious.
My wife Michelle had the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and I had the Chocolate Chips themselves. We walked away $8 poorer with two cookies each. Honestly, this is a little overpriced in my opinion. The cookies were nice to munch away at while walking around and taking in the sights of the market, but they weren't worth the price. I've had better cookies for cheaper. Honestly, I've had better cookies in my grandmother's kitchen. Not to say that these were bad- they certainly were tasty, and could hit the spot of one were to have a sweet tooth.
So if you want some cookies, you could do worse than these. Expect to pay for them, though.
Bassett's Ice Cream- It was a fairly warm day, and to be honest, the market itself was pretty warm, so we decided to get some ice cream at Bassett's on the way out. I had the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Michelle had the Strawberry.
Both flavors were good. This was probably the second best Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream I have ever had, the best being Maurer's Dairy in Shamokin. Prices were reasonable, and we walked out cooled off with a nice little treat.
Bassett's is homemade, and you can taste the craft in their ice cream. Mine was nice and creamy, with a great texture, with the chunks of cookie dough distributed evenly throughout. Although it was "hard" ice cream, it wasn't "too hard". Pretty good if I do say so myself!
Four Seasons Juice Bar- What is wheatgrass? Whatever it is, keep it away from my smoothies. I ordered a Orange Pineapple smoothie from this place, and they put some of this wheatgrass stuff in. Gag.
It was so terrible I offer up this haiku:
Wheatgrass Horror Time
I want orange and pineapple
Instead, want to puke
And here's another:
Seriously now?
Wheatgrass? Actual grass here?
In my drink? Ugh. No.
Overall, I had a great time here. There are numerous places to explore and enjoy, and I can't wait to return.
Being in Philly, it does have more than one place that will serve you a cheesesteak. But come on, you can get a cheesesteak anywhere.
So, having just spent some time in Philadelphia, here are some minireviews of the places in the Reading Terminal Market where I tried some of the deliciousness available there.
Before we begin, I want to make something perfectly clear: I ATE AT THE MARKET ON MULTIPLE DAYS. I DID NOT EAT ALL OF THIS STUFF IN ONE DAY, NOR DO I THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO SO. Okay, read on!
Dutch Eating Place: This place by far wins the title of "most obvious restaurant name." These are PA Dutch people who serve you various foods from that tradition. I suspect that most of these delicious dishes are high in fat, loaded with calories, and otherwise not appropriate for those dieting.
When I checked out this place on yelp.com, just about every other review spoke of the legendary Apple Dumpling. One comical review even spoke of simultaneously giving the reviewer diabetes and an arousing sensation. You can get it with either whipping cream or heavy cream. I went for the heavy cream, since it was pretty much milk in a cup, and I have always been of the opinion that apple pie and apple dumplings are best eaten with enough milk that you are essentially eating Apple Confectionary Cereal.
The Apple Dumpling was good. But honestly, when everyone talks something up like it is Sliced Bread Number 2, it rarely lives up to the hype. This is the way I felt about the Apple Dumpling at Dutch Eating Place. It was delicious, but at the same time, not as mindblowing as I expected. Honestly, I am still craving the Apple Dumplings you can get at the Bloomsburg Fair.
I also had the ham loaf special, which came with mashed potatoes and corn. It was a bargain at only $5.99, and you got two huge pieces of ham loaf in some sort of wonderful fruity glaze. To me, this was better than the apple dumpling. I love ham loaf, and this particular version was an adventure in taste explosions. I didn't so much care for the sides- the mashed potatoes and corn were both fairly ordinary.
On another day, I tried their Beef BBQ sandwich. See, everyone raves about the apple dumpling, but there's more to be fond of here at Dutch Eating Place. The Beef BBQ Sandwich should be in the discussion of best sandwiches you can have at the Reading Terminal Market. The BBQ sauce was obviously homemade, and it drenched hot, thick cuts of beef. It was also a bargain compared to the other food served at the market, and I should also say that it was HUGE.
So really, to me this is the best place at the Reading Terminal Market, at least so far in my journey through that cornucopia of food awesomeness.
DinNc's Roast Beef- So I went here expecting something incredible. Man V. Food's Adam Richman apparently had been here a few weeks ago, having previously covered the place in another episode of his show.
DiNic's is expensive at $10 a sandwich if you want provolone and broccoli rabe, but you also get a fairly big sandwich for that price which could be two meals for the average person. Also, expect to wait awhile- each day at the market, this was the place with the longest line. Searches on the net reveal that many believe this to be the best thing available in the market, if not in the entire city of Philadelphia.
So I waited a long time. I listened to the owner talk Flyers Hockey with the guy next to me in line. He seemed like a decent guy. But what did I get as a result?
Well, let's put it this way: maybe roast pork isn't for me. Everyone raves about the flavor, but to me, the only thing I tasted was the Provolone, which overshadowed everything. The pork had little to no flavor, and the vinagary taste you are supposed to receive from the rabe was simply absent. I have to admit, for me, DiNic's was a little bit of a letdown.
Maybe I should give this place another try. Maybe I had an underseasoned sandwich. But as it stands, the roast pork sandwich here is highly overrated.
The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company- The first thing we saw upon entrance to the RTM was this place, with its various cookies spread out, all looking delicious.
My wife Michelle had the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and I had the Chocolate Chips themselves. We walked away $8 poorer with two cookies each. Honestly, this is a little overpriced in my opinion. The cookies were nice to munch away at while walking around and taking in the sights of the market, but they weren't worth the price. I've had better cookies for cheaper. Honestly, I've had better cookies in my grandmother's kitchen. Not to say that these were bad- they certainly were tasty, and could hit the spot of one were to have a sweet tooth.
So if you want some cookies, you could do worse than these. Expect to pay for them, though.
Bassett's Ice Cream- It was a fairly warm day, and to be honest, the market itself was pretty warm, so we decided to get some ice cream at Bassett's on the way out. I had the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Michelle had the Strawberry.
Both flavors were good. This was probably the second best Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream I have ever had, the best being Maurer's Dairy in Shamokin. Prices were reasonable, and we walked out cooled off with a nice little treat.
Bassett's is homemade, and you can taste the craft in their ice cream. Mine was nice and creamy, with a great texture, with the chunks of cookie dough distributed evenly throughout. Although it was "hard" ice cream, it wasn't "too hard". Pretty good if I do say so myself!
Four Seasons Juice Bar- What is wheatgrass? Whatever it is, keep it away from my smoothies. I ordered a Orange Pineapple smoothie from this place, and they put some of this wheatgrass stuff in. Gag.
It was so terrible I offer up this haiku:
Wheatgrass Horror Time
I want orange and pineapple
Instead, want to puke
And here's another:
Seriously now?
Wheatgrass? Actual grass here?
In my drink? Ugh. No.
Overall, I had a great time here. There are numerous places to explore and enjoy, and I can't wait to return.
Been away for a bit...
Sorry for the lack of posts, everyone. I was on vacation for awhile.
Coming soon: "Coal Region Food Guy Eats Outside of the Coal Region".
Stay tuned!
Coming soon: "Coal Region Food Guy Eats Outside of the Coal Region".
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Maurer's Dairy and Ice Cream Shoppe- Shamokin, PA
Ice Cream is a rite of passage here in the Coal Region. I remember as a child on a warm summer's night loading up the family in the car and taking a ride to the Tastee Freeze in Shenandoah Heights or Rickard's Dairy in Gordon.
In the city of Shamokin, Maurer's Dairy has been in business for years. I'm not sure how long, but it is considered by many to be a hallmark of the city, one of the highlights of its culinary culture. I first discovered Maurer's Dairy back in the late 1990's, as it became a stop for me between my home in Frackville and my school, Susquehanna University.
Maurer's advertises itself as the home of Bittersweet Ice Cream. This is simply (as far as I can tell) some Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Bittersweet Chocolate Chips mixed throughout. As with all of their varieties, the Bittersweet Ice Cream is homemade. You can really taste the care that goes into this ice cream, especially, in my opinion, the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. To me, this should be the real highlight of their ice cream menu- not only do you get the bittersweet ice cream, but you get it with the added emphasis of buttery, soft chunks of cookie dough. Delicious!
Although many come here for the ice cream, Maurer's also serves actual food. The inside of the restaurant looks like a prototypical ice cream parlor, and I suspect that this layout has been in place for a very long time. The good news is that, despite its apparent age, they keep the place pretty clean.
So how is the food? Well, it depends what food you are talking about. I have had Maurer's food for lunch multiple times as take out, and each time it has been pretty good. They do a decent job with club sandwiches, but my favorite thing on their menu is the Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub. It's not a huge sub, which is probably a good thing given all the salt and fat. It tastes delicious, though- Chicken, bacon, and ranch dressing is an excellent combination.
I've also had Maurer's for breakfast. Their omelets are very good- I have had the ham and cheese and bacon and cheese varieties, and the egg is good, the cheese is distributed throughout, and there is plenty of meat inside. Just for your information, Maurer's serves the "pocket of meat and cheese folded up in an egg" variety, which in my opinion, is better than the "random mix of meat, cheese, and egg" variety you can get at other places.
I had homefries with my omelets, and to be honest, they weren't anything special. To be more honest, they weren't cooked through all the way. Their homefries are clumps of potatoes- not quite the disks you get at some places, not quite the little cubes of potato you get at others. Its's somewhere in between, and I wish they would change it because it is not working.
So how is the food? Well, it depends what food you are talking about. I have had Maurer's food for lunch multiple times as take out, and each time it has been pretty good. They do a decent job with club sandwiches, but my favorite thing on their menu is the Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub. It's not a huge sub, which is probably a good thing given all the salt and fat. It tastes delicious, though- Chicken, bacon, and ranch dressing is an excellent combination.
I've also had Maurer's for breakfast. Their omelets are very good- I have had the ham and cheese and bacon and cheese varieties, and the egg is good, the cheese is distributed throughout, and there is plenty of meat inside. Just for your information, Maurer's serves the "pocket of meat and cheese folded up in an egg" variety, which in my opinion, is better than the "random mix of meat, cheese, and egg" variety you can get at other places.
I had homefries with my omelets, and to be honest, they weren't anything special. To be more honest, they weren't cooked through all the way. Their homefries are clumps of potatoes- not quite the disks you get at some places, not quite the little cubes of potato you get at others. Its's somewhere in between, and I wish they would change it because it is not working.
I should also note that I had about a quart of butter on my toast. Tastes delicious, but I was checking my heart rate all day. My wife says I'm paranoid about it. Still, the toast might have taken about five months off of the end of my life, despite its deliciousness.
I was severely disappointed in their old style fountain sodas. First off, Maurer's serves Pepsi, which is a strike against them for me, since I much rather have Coke. Secondly, they offer syrup additions, with a variety of flavors. I tried their Pepsi with cherry syrup. I don't know for sure, but I think I had the recommended daily allowance of sugar for ten days in my first sip. It was sickeningly, cloyingly sweet. Maurer's also happens to have bottles of local company Big Ben's in the refrigerator at the entrance. Next time I'll get that instead.
So I would really recommend Maurer's for the ice cream. For the food, it seems touch and go, though they have some interesting sandwich options.
Maurer's Dairy and Ice Cream Shoppe
34 South Market Street
Shamokin, PA 17872
(570)644-1316
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Tony's Fluffburger
Lately, local eatery Tony's Lunch was the focus of a story on local news channel WNEP-16. Apparently the local ABC affiliate has been doing a series of "strange food" pieces, which included the Tony's Lunch menu item the "Fluffburger".
Click here to watch and read the story.
I've had the Fluffburger more than once. Judging on my previous review of Tony's, you all know that I absolutely love the place and adore the food. Tony's really is a culture all its own, and to be honest, I prefer the "classic" Girardville location to the new Bloomsburg one (though both are good). That has to do more with me being a traditionalist than anything else. The Bloomsburg location serves fine food, but there's just something about the G-Ville location that gives, in my opinion, a more authentic experience. Also, if you want to meet some authentic Coal Crackers, G-Ville is your best bet.
Still, the Bloomsburg location is open for more "regular" hours, so your mileage may vary. At either place you are going to get a good, homestyle hamburger patty that's miles ahead of anything else in the area.
Anyway, I've had the Fluffburger at both. And to be honest, I never got it. It has a decent mix of sweet and spicy, I'll give it that. If you are less of a spice-a-holic, the Fluffburger might actually be more your speed.
To me, the classic taste of sauce, cheese, and butter is where it's at. That's what defines Tony's for me. I do have the Fluffburger very occasionally when I am in the mood for something different, but I also always order a screamer right alongside.
It's worth noting that the M.C. Coney in Mt. Carmel also has a Fluffburger. It's a pale imitation, if you ask me. Their sauce is more run of the mill spicy sauce. I eat there from time to time, and the food is good, but it's not Tony's.
On the whole, good to see Tony's getting some coverage. I know the Bloomsburg location had to deal with the struggle of the massive flood that hit the area back in September of last year, but it seems like they are doing well. It should be a great fit in a college town. If it were *me* doing the story, however, I'd point out the classic taste of the screamer and not focus so much on the Fluffburger. I guess the regular screamer isn't enough of a "bizarre" thing for them, though.
Click here to watch and read the story.
I've had the Fluffburger more than once. Judging on my previous review of Tony's, you all know that I absolutely love the place and adore the food. Tony's really is a culture all its own, and to be honest, I prefer the "classic" Girardville location to the new Bloomsburg one (though both are good). That has to do more with me being a traditionalist than anything else. The Bloomsburg location serves fine food, but there's just something about the G-Ville location that gives, in my opinion, a more authentic experience. Also, if you want to meet some authentic Coal Crackers, G-Ville is your best bet.
Still, the Bloomsburg location is open for more "regular" hours, so your mileage may vary. At either place you are going to get a good, homestyle hamburger patty that's miles ahead of anything else in the area.
Anyway, I've had the Fluffburger at both. And to be honest, I never got it. It has a decent mix of sweet and spicy, I'll give it that. If you are less of a spice-a-holic, the Fluffburger might actually be more your speed.
To me, the classic taste of sauce, cheese, and butter is where it's at. That's what defines Tony's for me. I do have the Fluffburger very occasionally when I am in the mood for something different, but I also always order a screamer right alongside.
It's worth noting that the M.C. Coney in Mt. Carmel also has a Fluffburger. It's a pale imitation, if you ask me. Their sauce is more run of the mill spicy sauce. I eat there from time to time, and the food is good, but it's not Tony's.
On the whole, good to see Tony's getting some coverage. I know the Bloomsburg location had to deal with the struggle of the massive flood that hit the area back in September of last year, but it seems like they are doing well. It should be a great fit in a college town. If it were *me* doing the story, however, I'd point out the classic taste of the screamer and not focus so much on the Fluffburger. I guess the regular screamer isn't enough of a "bizarre" thing for them, though.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Ranking the McDonalds of the Coal Region- from "Eh" to Worst
This next entry is really a "best of the worst" column. Let's face it, you don't go to McDonald's looking for a good meal. You go there looking or a quick meal!
Full of salt, processed, and heavily (pun intended) contributing to the nation's obesity epidemic, McDonald's isn't a place I go to because I want to.
Except for the fries. I crave the fries. The fries are my cigarettes, but the good news is I tend to stay away from them for weeks at a time. Regardless, I do believe, but cannot prove, that McDonald's has done something to their food to make it addictive.
So here's the list. We're not ranking them by which McDonald's is the best. No, no, that would be boring. We are going to rank them by the worst, with #10 being so-so and #1 being horrifying.
So here's the list:
10.) Hometown- I can't really fault this McDonald's for much other than the default McDonald's problems. So it's here to simply place itself on the list.
9.) Frackville- There used to be two McDonald's in Frackville- one inside the Schuylkill Mall and one outside. The inside one used to be popular for birthday parties (does McDonald's even do that anymore?) but the outside one has always been more convenient. Anyways, the outside one is the only one left, and remains a popular stop off of Interstate 81. It's not horrible, I'll give it that. At the same time, it's not good- the service I've gotten there has been lacking, and their recent "upgrade" features the Most Uncomfortable Seats Known to Man. The bathrooms are also usually very, very dirty.
8.) Pine Grove- Also easily accessible from Interstate 81, it has the exact opposite problem of the Frackville McDonald's- it could use an upgrade. Also, I once got a Shamrock Shake from this location that was all white stuff on the bottom and green stuff on the top. It was quickly thrown away. Otherwise, this is a fairly inoffensive location aside from the obvious "You'll die if you eat here too much" factor.
7.) Danville- SLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Their Drive-Thru location is easily reached from I-80. Technically this isn't the Coal Region, but come on, I've fallen asleep here before my food was ready. Okay, not really, but I HAVE listened to 1/3 of a baseball game from the time I ordered to the time I got my food.
6.) Schuylkill Haven- There's not enough seating here. It's also at an intersection, and in an area that doesn't have enough lanes for the very busy traffic. The drive thru, therefore, isn't really very "convenient". Also, WHEN I SAY NO CHEESE ON A QUARTER POUNDER I MEAN NO CHEESE THANK YOU.
5.) Elysburg- about a year ago, I went to the Elysburg location and ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. I received my order, and before driving off, I saw they gave me a fried chicken sandwich. I went inside and pointed out the error. They took my sandwich, and then I waited 10 MINUTES before they gave me back a FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH, THIS TIME A DIFFERENT PATTY. I didn't want to wait any longer so I sucked it up and had my arteries clogged. I haven't been back since.
4.) Hazleton (the location outside of the Laurel mall)- once I ordered a ten piece chicken nuggets here, and instead I got a ten piece box with five nuggets in it. Thanks for looking out for my carb intake, Hazleton McDonald's, but no thanks for charging me full price anyway. Also, this location routinely has people with loud and fast cars who go out of the way to show you how loud and fast their cars are. Be careful walking inside from your car, some restored hot rod might mow you down in the process.
3.) Wilkes-Barre (the "old style" one next to Toys R Us)- not enough seating, and absolutely the most disinerested employees I have ever encountered, except for McDonald's #1. They act like your request for a meal is more like a request for them to do heavy manual labor.
2.) Pottsville (across from the Fairlane Village Mall)- "I wanna go to the Playplace!" Those words, shouted by a young child, have resulted in many Coal Region families taking their kids to this Mcdonald's location. While this makes it a popular place for families, if you are just trying to eat, it's annoying to hear the yells of little Stevie trying to get his mom's attention 5,000 times because he's at the place on the top with the clear bubble that he can see through. What makes it worse is when real little kids get stuck and/or lost in the Playplace and the whole focus of everyone in the store is on the staff and parents of little Tommy trying to get his screaming mouth out. This is also the part of the entry where people will think I don't like kids. That's not true, I love kids and want some of my own some day. I just don't like boneheaded parenting that DOESN'T READ THE RULES POSTED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PLAYPLACE, AND THEN WANTS EVERYONE TO HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO READ SIGNS. Plus, that thing has to have at least 5,000 diseases running through its plastic structure because I can bet the staff doesn't clean it as thoroughly or often as they should. Just a hunch.
And the absolute worst McDonald's in the Coal Region:
1.) Shamokin- WOW. I could write a book on my experiences with this location alone. And don't argue with them, because their attitudes are horrible. Not too long ago I ordered two double cheeseburgers plain, and I got them back with ketchup. No biggie, but I went up to the counter and asked them to fix the mistake. The counter guy mumbled, "that is plain", so I just went and dealt with the extremely super-sweet McDonald's ketchup on the sandwich. They have constant turnover here. If you have special requests, you have about a 10% chance of that request being granted. My wife doesn't like cheese. Late one night, we hadn't eaten so I swung by because it was pretty much the only option in Shamokin. Upon getting home, my "Quarter Pounder No Cheese" was a Quarter Pounder with FIVE SLICES of cheese on it. I'm fairly certain some cranky worker wanted to punish me for making a special request.
This place, again, has major attitude. I have had food just about thrown at me from the drive-thru window, and they really seem to get the most clueless people ever to work at this place.
And if you eat inside, be prepared to wait about 15 minutes to get your food EVEN THOUGH YOUR FRIES ARE SITTING RIGHT THERE BUT THE PERSON JUST STANDING AROUND DOESN'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO WALK OVER AND GET THEM.
Ugh. The only reason this place is in business is because sometimes it's one of very few options for quick food. But regardless, I've heard more than one person in Shamokin refer to this place as "Asshole McDonald's". I have to agree.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sweet Pizzz Pizza- Frackville, PA
A long time ago, there was this place called Rocky's Pizza. They had two locations, one in Frackville and one in Mahanoy City. While I was never too crazy about their pizza (it was okay, but Pizza Place in Frackville had my heart at that point), I always found myself craving their wings. I can remember having friends over for Monday Night to watch the wrestling shows that were on at the time, and we would always get a party platter of Rocky's wings and go to town.
Rocky's went out of business some time in middle of the last decade, and their building in Frackville was torn down in order to make more parking lot space for the Dutch Kitchen.
Based on my last review, you all know how I feel about the Dutch Kitchen, but still, the business must not have been enough to keep Rocky's going. In addition to the wings, they were also known for some fairly unique-for-the-time menu items such as their Chicken BBQ Pizza, which was a rarity for me because most others preferred "traditional" Pizza. Years have come and gone, and while most people Rave about Black Diamond Wings (and I love them too), I actually preferred Rocky's. Well, recently Rocky's Wings have come back to Frackville- not as Rocky's, but as a menu item Sweet Pizzz Pizza. I don't get the third "z" in Pizzz. It reads to me like urination, but whatever.
Sweet Pizzz has been around for a few years now- and I know they have other locations other than the one in Frackville, so they are, like Rocky's before it, becoming a "mini-chain" of sorts. I don't know for sure, but I am guessing that this is the people behind the old Rocky's Pizza with a new name. As an aside, Rocky's used to have these "so bad it's good" commercials on local television, narrated by a anthropomorphic Pizza Slice that spoke with the voice of a horrible Sylvester Stallone impersonator. I ordered wings a few months ago, and they were exactly as I had remembered. Just eh right amount of spice, with a hint of sweetness. Rocky's wing sauce (and I get what is now on the menu as "Rocky's mild") is also a great dipping sauce for french fries and other kinds of fried foods which your cardiologist doesn't want you to eat.
Their wings, both now and then, are on the larger side, with a fairly generous amount of meat on the bone. Some wings in the area are possibly eaten in a bite or two- not the wings at Sweet Pizzz. I still don't like the superfluous third Z. I had their pizza last night. As the name suggests, it is "sweet sauce", a Schuylkill County thing that also can be had at both Pizza Place in Frackville and Centiole's Pizza. Both of these places will get reviews in the future, but regardless, they all have some variation of "sweet sauce". I found the sauce at Sweet Pizzz to be sweet but not overly so. I would put it somewhere in the middle between the cloyingly sweet Centiole's and the not-too-sweet-but-still-sweet Pizza Place. There's a good flavor to their sauce.
What interests me about this pizza, though, is the combination of sauce and cheese. Sweet Pizzz has a fairly substantial amount of cheese on their pizza, and whatever the mixture is, it is an excellent combination with the sauce. They also package in some "Hot Sauce", which is more like a spicier version of their regular pizza sauce, with some visible pepper and onion in it. It adds a little more bite to the pizza, but isn't essential in my opinion. Sweet Pizzz is a relatively new edition to the Pizza landscape in Frackville, a town with already 400 Pizza restaurants in it, which was probably a reason the old Rocky's Pizza wasn't sustainable. I would love to see some new things tried in my hometown, but I'm fairly certain some of what I wish for wouldn't really succeed in this town. This is a town that loves its pizza, so more pizza places it gets. In comparison with some other pizza restaurants, Sweet Pizzz is on the more expensive side. You could get some excellent Sweet Sauce Pizza for a lot cheaper at Pizza Place just up the street. Still, you could do a lot worse than Sweet Pizzz. The pizza is pretty good, and the wings are excellent. Just please, someone get them to get rid of the third "Z".
Sweet Pizzz Pizza
301 South Lehigh Ave
Frackville, PA
(570)874-1112
Based on my last review, you all know how I feel about the Dutch Kitchen, but still, the business must not have been enough to keep Rocky's going. In addition to the wings, they were also known for some fairly unique-for-the-time menu items such as their Chicken BBQ Pizza, which was a rarity for me because most others preferred "traditional" Pizza. Years have come and gone, and while most people Rave about Black Diamond Wings (and I love them too), I actually preferred Rocky's. Well, recently Rocky's Wings have come back to Frackville- not as Rocky's, but as a menu item Sweet Pizzz Pizza. I don't get the third "z" in Pizzz. It reads to me like urination, but whatever.
Sweet Pizzz has been around for a few years now- and I know they have other locations other than the one in Frackville, so they are, like Rocky's before it, becoming a "mini-chain" of sorts. I don't know for sure, but I am guessing that this is the people behind the old Rocky's Pizza with a new name. As an aside, Rocky's used to have these "so bad it's good" commercials on local television, narrated by a anthropomorphic Pizza Slice that spoke with the voice of a horrible Sylvester Stallone impersonator. I ordered wings a few months ago, and they were exactly as I had remembered. Just eh right amount of spice, with a hint of sweetness. Rocky's wing sauce (and I get what is now on the menu as "Rocky's mild") is also a great dipping sauce for french fries and other kinds of fried foods which your cardiologist doesn't want you to eat.
Their wings, both now and then, are on the larger side, with a fairly generous amount of meat on the bone. Some wings in the area are possibly eaten in a bite or two- not the wings at Sweet Pizzz. I still don't like the superfluous third Z. I had their pizza last night. As the name suggests, it is "sweet sauce", a Schuylkill County thing that also can be had at both Pizza Place in Frackville and Centiole's Pizza. Both of these places will get reviews in the future, but regardless, they all have some variation of "sweet sauce". I found the sauce at Sweet Pizzz to be sweet but not overly so. I would put it somewhere in the middle between the cloyingly sweet Centiole's and the not-too-sweet-but-still-sweet Pizza Place. There's a good flavor to their sauce.
What interests me about this pizza, though, is the combination of sauce and cheese. Sweet Pizzz has a fairly substantial amount of cheese on their pizza, and whatever the mixture is, it is an excellent combination with the sauce. They also package in some "Hot Sauce", which is more like a spicier version of their regular pizza sauce, with some visible pepper and onion in it. It adds a little more bite to the pizza, but isn't essential in my opinion. Sweet Pizzz is a relatively new edition to the Pizza landscape in Frackville, a town with already 400 Pizza restaurants in it, which was probably a reason the old Rocky's Pizza wasn't sustainable. I would love to see some new things tried in my hometown, but I'm fairly certain some of what I wish for wouldn't really succeed in this town. This is a town that loves its pizza, so more pizza places it gets. In comparison with some other pizza restaurants, Sweet Pizzz is on the more expensive side. You could get some excellent Sweet Sauce Pizza for a lot cheaper at Pizza Place just up the street. Still, you could do a lot worse than Sweet Pizzz. The pizza is pretty good, and the wings are excellent. Just please, someone get them to get rid of the third "Z".
Sweet Pizzz Pizza
301 South Lehigh Ave
Frackville, PA
(570)874-1112
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Dutch Kitchen- Frackville, PA
Ah, my beloved hometown of Frackville.
Actually, Frackville doesn't look like much anymore. I don't know if it ever did. It was the town of my youth, the place where I learned about life, where I was a bright eyed, positive kid looking to take on the world. It's the town where, on my Aunt Faye's porch, I told her I felt I was called to be a pastor- the first time I would ever utter that to anyone.
My hometown is like a girlfriend (or boyfriend) that you meet after years of seeing her and you see that she's just not the same anymore. The current economy has not been kind, so the town is broken down, like the same girl (boy) you once knew who now is scraping to make ends meet with three children whose father (mother) never comes around. Quite frankly, you see a lot of those situations in Frackville, too. I could go on and on with the social commentary of a place I would love to see restored, but this blog is about the food. Onward we go!
The Dutch Kitchen boasts itself as the premier restaurant in the borough of Frackville. There are billboards up and down Interstate 81 advertising its "Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking", with the PA Dutch Hex signs. To many people, Frackville is known primarily because of the Dutch Kitchen. For many travelers using the aforementioned Interstate 81, the Dutch Kitchen is the premier place to stop and have a bite to eat before resuming one's journey. But, like the borough of Frackville itself, the Dutch Kitchen has seen better days.
Maybe it's that they unfairly fired a friend of mine, and I'm still bitter over that episode. However, that was years ago, and I would like to think I'm far, far past that. I prefer to think it's from the wilted lettuce I last saw on the touted salad bar that really wasn't all that impressive. Or perhaps the way-too-expensive-for-the-area pricing, including a $7 Pancake platter that you can get at other area restaurants for two dollars less. But what ever it is, I cannot see why some people absolutely rave about this place. It's even been included in most editions of the Roadfood guide to eating.
The Dutch Kitchen has seen better days. It is still possible to get a good meal there, though you can eat at other places in the area, get good food, and pay less. The last time I ate there was in early March 2012, when my uncle's father passed away, and we went there to eat after the funeral. I ordered a broiled seafood platter that included a crab cake, shrimp, scallops, and a fish filet. The crab cake didn't have much crab in it at all, being essentially a stuffing ball. The scallops were extraordinarily tough. The shrimp and the fish were good. I just don't see the same care put into this place that used to be there. This used to be a restaurant where you would go for special occasions. I ate there before my senior winter formal. I ate there when my Aunt Lucille died. This is a place of memory. This place's success is important to the borough as a whole, as it is one of the first landmarks that one sees upon entering Frackville.
My honest opinion is that the reputation this place has had in the past is what the management is currently living on. Also, that particular exit has only two real dining options advertised on the exit signs- this restaurant and a Cracker Barrel. They don't have to try hard, so they don't. And still, people rave on about the food here. They must be seeing something that I am missing. As for the prices, they probably can get away with this because what is expensive for Frackville is still fairly cheap in most other areas, so travelers don't notice.
For nostalgia's sake, I want to give this place a good review, but if I am going to be honest, I will say that the Dutch Kitchen is a once-great restaurant that currently serves passable food. They can call themselves "famous" all they want, and glorify themselves in their advertising, but the locals know, it's not what it once was. They need to stop cutting corners and serve the kind of food we know they're capable of. But as it stands, the Dutch Kitchen is the cute high school cheerleader who is still trying to live off of the looks she had twenty or thirty years ago.
Man, this entry depressed me!
The Dutch Kitchen
433 South Lehigh Avenue
Frackville, PA 17931
(570)874-3265
My hometown is like a girlfriend (or boyfriend) that you meet after years of seeing her and you see that she's just not the same anymore. The current economy has not been kind, so the town is broken down, like the same girl (boy) you once knew who now is scraping to make ends meet with three children whose father (mother) never comes around. Quite frankly, you see a lot of those situations in Frackville, too. I could go on and on with the social commentary of a place I would love to see restored, but this blog is about the food. Onward we go!
The Dutch Kitchen boasts itself as the premier restaurant in the borough of Frackville. There are billboards up and down Interstate 81 advertising its "Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking", with the PA Dutch Hex signs. To many people, Frackville is known primarily because of the Dutch Kitchen. For many travelers using the aforementioned Interstate 81, the Dutch Kitchen is the premier place to stop and have a bite to eat before resuming one's journey. But, like the borough of Frackville itself, the Dutch Kitchen has seen better days.
Maybe it's that they unfairly fired a friend of mine, and I'm still bitter over that episode. However, that was years ago, and I would like to think I'm far, far past that. I prefer to think it's from the wilted lettuce I last saw on the touted salad bar that really wasn't all that impressive. Or perhaps the way-too-expensive-for-the-area pricing, including a $7 Pancake platter that you can get at other area restaurants for two dollars less. But what ever it is, I cannot see why some people absolutely rave about this place. It's even been included in most editions of the Roadfood guide to eating.
The Dutch Kitchen has seen better days. It is still possible to get a good meal there, though you can eat at other places in the area, get good food, and pay less. The last time I ate there was in early March 2012, when my uncle's father passed away, and we went there to eat after the funeral. I ordered a broiled seafood platter that included a crab cake, shrimp, scallops, and a fish filet. The crab cake didn't have much crab in it at all, being essentially a stuffing ball. The scallops were extraordinarily tough. The shrimp and the fish were good. I just don't see the same care put into this place that used to be there. This used to be a restaurant where you would go for special occasions. I ate there before my senior winter formal. I ate there when my Aunt Lucille died. This is a place of memory. This place's success is important to the borough as a whole, as it is one of the first landmarks that one sees upon entering Frackville.
My honest opinion is that the reputation this place has had in the past is what the management is currently living on. Also, that particular exit has only two real dining options advertised on the exit signs- this restaurant and a Cracker Barrel. They don't have to try hard, so they don't. And still, people rave on about the food here. They must be seeing something that I am missing. As for the prices, they probably can get away with this because what is expensive for Frackville is still fairly cheap in most other areas, so travelers don't notice.
For nostalgia's sake, I want to give this place a good review, but if I am going to be honest, I will say that the Dutch Kitchen is a once-great restaurant that currently serves passable food. They can call themselves "famous" all they want, and glorify themselves in their advertising, but the locals know, it's not what it once was. They need to stop cutting corners and serve the kind of food we know they're capable of. But as it stands, the Dutch Kitchen is the cute high school cheerleader who is still trying to live off of the looks she had twenty or thirty years ago.
Man, this entry depressed me!
The Dutch Kitchen
433 South Lehigh Avenue
Frackville, PA 17931
(570)874-3265
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Rob's Good Time Grill- Shamokin, PA
When I first moved to Shamokin, near my new home was this place called Rob's Six Pack Shack. It was a corner beer store- not an uncommon sight in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Mostly it sold beer via both six packs and quarts, and some half cases, but it also sold some food.
Rob's Six Pack Shack was a diamond in the rough- some unique characters frequented the place, it had a dingy atmosphere with some pictures of sports stars, including local athlete Steve Kline who was a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals a few years ago. Regardless of the fact that it was mainly known as a beer store, or the fact that it looked like it needed a good scrubbing, or the fact that some of its clientele would curse at you rather than smile at you, Rob's Six Pack Shack had some very, very good food.
The owner himself, Rob, is a standup guy and like me, a Philadelphia Phillies fan. He's a personable fellow who would talk to anybody. He loved to cook and you could taste it in his food. He made a great breakfast, and the cheesesteaks at Rob's Six Pack Shack were some of the best in the area. I especially loved the Smokehouse Cheesesteak, which was essentially a "Rodeo Cheeseburger" take on the much-loved combo of meat and cheese on a fresh roll. He also made his own Barbecue sauce, which was so good that I ordered a side of it with everything- they were especially great to use as a dip for the fresh-cut fries.
Flash forward to 2012, and Rob's Six Pack Shack is gone. Rob and his wife replaced it with Rob's Good Time Grill, down the street a few blocks and on the other side of Market Street in Shamokin. It is miles away a different place than the Six Pack Shack; the first view you see when entering is a fancy looking bar with three large flat screen televisions playing whatever games are on.
It has ample seating in the rear, and now boasts many community nights- there's a wing night, a karaoke night, and I understand that they had one impressive New Year's Eve Party.
Call me a stick in the mud, but I still miss the old Rob's. Despite the cosmetic upgrades and the now bigger menu, I still miss the old Rob's.
First off, I don't see Rob around very much anymore. Perhaps that is by design, but many of the newer people they hired just don't seem as friendly or personable. I've eaten there a handful of times now, and each time my encounter with the waitress has seemed awkward. Maybe it's me, I don't know- but it's just an uncomfortable experience.
The food is still delicious. I still order take out, though I will say that since the move, there have been times that my food has not been made as I ordered it. In the past three months, I've ordered the Smokehouse Cheesesteak three or four times, and I've had versions with marinara sauce on it, versions with peppers, versions with barbecue sauce, and now, I don't order from there as much. Maybe the consistency issue is something that came with the move, but it's something that makes me wonder if I really want to order from Rob's on a particular night and risk getting something I don't want. The economy hasn't picked up around here, money is tight, and it's not worth paying good money for something you didn't order (which is what you end up doing when you pick up your food close to closing time).
I also went to wing night, which Rob's has every Thursday night (and, for some reason, you have to be 21 to attend). The wings are delicious, from the homemade barbecue sauce to the Thai wings that had me coming back for thirds and fourths. They also serve their delicious homemade fresh cut fries with the wing bar. Still, some of the wings were cold, and they didn't refresh the bar as often as I would have liked.
Another issue has been when exactly Rob's Good Time Grill closes. I tend to eat late because of my employment, and sometimes I've driven into town and seen the "Open" sign lit. I've gone inside, only to be told that the kitchen is closed. That's a little frustrating.
Listen, I don't want to tear the new place apart. Clearly they are trying something new, and I really hopes it works out for them because Shamokin needs good places to eat, and I know that this group can make some excellent food. Each little issue I've brought up has been fairly minor, but when you add up the minor things, it seems like the issues have substance.
When all is said and done, Rob's Good Time Grill is a decent option if you happen to be in Shamokin. On a Thursday night, the wings are peerless, and it's a good place to catch a game. If they address the issues I've mentioned, they will definitely have a winner.
Rob's Good Time Grill
100 South Market Street
Shamokin, PA 17872
(570) 648-1191
Rob's Six Pack Shack was a diamond in the rough- some unique characters frequented the place, it had a dingy atmosphere with some pictures of sports stars, including local athlete Steve Kline who was a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals a few years ago. Regardless of the fact that it was mainly known as a beer store, or the fact that it looked like it needed a good scrubbing, or the fact that some of its clientele would curse at you rather than smile at you, Rob's Six Pack Shack had some very, very good food.
The owner himself, Rob, is a standup guy and like me, a Philadelphia Phillies fan. He's a personable fellow who would talk to anybody. He loved to cook and you could taste it in his food. He made a great breakfast, and the cheesesteaks at Rob's Six Pack Shack were some of the best in the area. I especially loved the Smokehouse Cheesesteak, which was essentially a "Rodeo Cheeseburger" take on the much-loved combo of meat and cheese on a fresh roll. He also made his own Barbecue sauce, which was so good that I ordered a side of it with everything- they were especially great to use as a dip for the fresh-cut fries.
Flash forward to 2012, and Rob's Six Pack Shack is gone. Rob and his wife replaced it with Rob's Good Time Grill, down the street a few blocks and on the other side of Market Street in Shamokin. It is miles away a different place than the Six Pack Shack; the first view you see when entering is a fancy looking bar with three large flat screen televisions playing whatever games are on.
It has ample seating in the rear, and now boasts many community nights- there's a wing night, a karaoke night, and I understand that they had one impressive New Year's Eve Party.
Call me a stick in the mud, but I still miss the old Rob's. Despite the cosmetic upgrades and the now bigger menu, I still miss the old Rob's.
First off, I don't see Rob around very much anymore. Perhaps that is by design, but many of the newer people they hired just don't seem as friendly or personable. I've eaten there a handful of times now, and each time my encounter with the waitress has seemed awkward. Maybe it's me, I don't know- but it's just an uncomfortable experience.
The food is still delicious. I still order take out, though I will say that since the move, there have been times that my food has not been made as I ordered it. In the past three months, I've ordered the Smokehouse Cheesesteak three or four times, and I've had versions with marinara sauce on it, versions with peppers, versions with barbecue sauce, and now, I don't order from there as much. Maybe the consistency issue is something that came with the move, but it's something that makes me wonder if I really want to order from Rob's on a particular night and risk getting something I don't want. The economy hasn't picked up around here, money is tight, and it's not worth paying good money for something you didn't order (which is what you end up doing when you pick up your food close to closing time).
I also went to wing night, which Rob's has every Thursday night (and, for some reason, you have to be 21 to attend). The wings are delicious, from the homemade barbecue sauce to the Thai wings that had me coming back for thirds and fourths. They also serve their delicious homemade fresh cut fries with the wing bar. Still, some of the wings were cold, and they didn't refresh the bar as often as I would have liked.
Another issue has been when exactly Rob's Good Time Grill closes. I tend to eat late because of my employment, and sometimes I've driven into town and seen the "Open" sign lit. I've gone inside, only to be told that the kitchen is closed. That's a little frustrating.
Listen, I don't want to tear the new place apart. Clearly they are trying something new, and I really hopes it works out for them because Shamokin needs good places to eat, and I know that this group can make some excellent food. Each little issue I've brought up has been fairly minor, but when you add up the minor things, it seems like the issues have substance.
When all is said and done, Rob's Good Time Grill is a decent option if you happen to be in Shamokin. On a Thursday night, the wings are peerless, and it's a good place to catch a game. If they address the issues I've mentioned, they will definitely have a winner.
Rob's Good Time Grill
100 South Market Street
Shamokin, PA 17872
(570) 648-1191
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Traci's Place- Sacramento, PA
My "real life" job is that of a pastor serving a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. One of my programs is a weekly "Lunch with the Pastor", where we rotate throughout area restaurants. I never have an agenda or anything like that; rather, people are invited to come and share whatever might be on their mind.
One of the better places we frequent for these lunches is a smaller place by the name of Traci's Place nestled in the Hegins Valley, at the end of a place called Valley View (where I serve) and at the beginning of another small town by the name of Sacramento. Sacramento is so small that Traci's Place is the only restaurant there- but they are good fortuned, because they have a decent little place to frequent.
Traci's operates as mainly a breakfast and lunch restaurant, usually closing around 1 PM or whenever the last customer leaves. I have never eaten there for breakfast, although I have heard that it is very good during that time. Most of the time I've been there has been during lunch, where they serve a fine assortment of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and usually a (large portioned) lunch special.
Recently, I had the opportunity to have their ham and mashed potatoes special. Please be warned- yes, this sounds like a dinner rather than a lunch, and yes, the portions are more dinner sized as well. Their ham was delicious- salty but not overly so, with a nice smoke to it as well. It was extremely tender, to the point that I could cut it with the edge of my fork rather than with a knife, which is good for me because I'm a "as few utensils as possible" kind of guy. I don't know why that's a thing with me, but it's a thing.
The best part of this meal, though, came in a fairly large bowl of lettuce with hot bacon dressing. The Hegins Valley is a Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired farming community, and dishes like this are one of the culinary attractions. If you've never had hot bacon dressing, let me describe it like this- sweet, vinegary, thick sauce that is a flavor explosion in one's mouth, highlighted by the utter awesomeness of bacon. It's probably not healthy (well, let's face it- it's definitely not), but it is one of those things I will always order at a restaurant if it is indeed offered as a side.
I always gush about food I love, and well, this above paragraph is proof of that.
Traci's also serves dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and has a wing night on Thursdays. Please be aware- their wing night has a rather limited menu. It's pretty much wings, greasy sides like french fries, burgers, and that's about it. They also have frog legs (another restaurant with frog legs!) but the night I was there they were out of them.
If you are looking for a decent place for a quick, fresh lunch, Traci's will be much more than adequate.
Traci's Place
Main Street
Sacramento, PA
(570)682-1020
One of the better places we frequent for these lunches is a smaller place by the name of Traci's Place nestled in the Hegins Valley, at the end of a place called Valley View (where I serve) and at the beginning of another small town by the name of Sacramento. Sacramento is so small that Traci's Place is the only restaurant there- but they are good fortuned, because they have a decent little place to frequent.
Traci's operates as mainly a breakfast and lunch restaurant, usually closing around 1 PM or whenever the last customer leaves. I have never eaten there for breakfast, although I have heard that it is very good during that time. Most of the time I've been there has been during lunch, where they serve a fine assortment of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and usually a (large portioned) lunch special.
Recently, I had the opportunity to have their ham and mashed potatoes special. Please be warned- yes, this sounds like a dinner rather than a lunch, and yes, the portions are more dinner sized as well. Their ham was delicious- salty but not overly so, with a nice smoke to it as well. It was extremely tender, to the point that I could cut it with the edge of my fork rather than with a knife, which is good for me because I'm a "as few utensils as possible" kind of guy. I don't know why that's a thing with me, but it's a thing.
The best part of this meal, though, came in a fairly large bowl of lettuce with hot bacon dressing. The Hegins Valley is a Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired farming community, and dishes like this are one of the culinary attractions. If you've never had hot bacon dressing, let me describe it like this- sweet, vinegary, thick sauce that is a flavor explosion in one's mouth, highlighted by the utter awesomeness of bacon. It's probably not healthy (well, let's face it- it's definitely not), but it is one of those things I will always order at a restaurant if it is indeed offered as a side.
I always gush about food I love, and well, this above paragraph is proof of that.
Traci's also serves dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and has a wing night on Thursdays. Please be aware- their wing night has a rather limited menu. It's pretty much wings, greasy sides like french fries, burgers, and that's about it. They also have frog legs (another restaurant with frog legs!) but the night I was there they were out of them.
If you are looking for a decent place for a quick, fresh lunch, Traci's will be much more than adequate.
Traci's Place
Main Street
Sacramento, PA
(570)682-1020
Monday, January 2, 2012
Tony's Lunch- Girardville, PA
It's places like this one that make me passionate about spreading the good news about good food in the area.
Let me put it right out there before I go any further- this little restaurant is a place I have frequented throughout my high school and college years. I have spent so many hours debating politics, sports, religion, and local issues with friends that I could write a book simply based on those conversations.
This restaurant, Tony's Lunch, is what turned me into a "foodie", and as a result, really the reason this Blog exists.
The last time I ate at Tony's was on a Monday night in December, 2011. A close friend of mine by the name of Larry and I went there, as we had many times in days past, and we ordered our "usuals."
For me, that's two "quick cheese" burgers, a Hot Dog with sauce, fries, and two chocolate milks.
I should be glad I don't eat here more often, because if I did, I'd probably have died five years ago. Not for the caloric-minded, that's for sure.
Let me get down to the meal. Tony's burgers are homemade, obviously tended to with a lot of care. The same can be said for their sauce, which you can order with pretty much anything on the menu- the burgers, the hot dogs, the cheesesteaks.
It's not a big menu, but they have done it for years and they do it well.
The sauce is the stuff of legends. Very hot and spicy, it has a texture all its own, and enhances the burger to the point of perfection. I should also say that for years, coal region locals have debated exactly what is in that sauce. You'll get no answers from the restaurant, so don't ask; they have even been offered money for it in the past and have turned it down. There's definitely some sort of tomato and red pepper, and perhaps some ground meat, but how much and what else goes in there is unknown. You'll notice that I ordered chocolate milk with a burger, which might sound strange, but it works- plus, the milk manages to coat your stomach from all that spice that the sauce provides.
I noted up above that I ordered a "quick cheese" burger. That means that you simply get an unmelted slice of american cheese on your burger. You can get melted if you prefer, but I would rather let the cheese melt with the butter (yes, there's butter on the burger as a topping) and sauce and enjoy the newly-created concoction as it teases my taste buds.
Their fries are the fresh-cut style, which I enjoy. I do wish that they would spend a few more seconds in the fryer, as sometimes they're not as crispy as you can get elsewhere, but they are very good. Again, not for those of us with heart issues.
Tony's Lunch has strange hours, so be warned- it opens at 8 PM and closes around 2 AM, or whenever the crowd stops, whichever comes first. Also, they will be closed around the holidays for days on end and when Notre Dame is playing. Sometimes it seems like it's a crapshoot whether it will be open or not, which I have to say is frustrating.
Their prices have gone up substantially in the years since I've been eating there, and I have to wonder if part of it is that they aren't open as much as they used to be, and have increased prices to maintain the same income. I don't know if that's the case, but still, what was a $9 meal five years ago is now $15.
You will meet all kinds of characters and legendary folklike Coal Region people while eating here. The clientele is sometimes very, very interesting, simply because of the late hours and varying levels of inebriation displayed by the customers. You can avoid this if you eat earlier on in the night.
I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Everytime I eat at Tony's Lunch I feel like I have come home again, and it is very, very easy to become addicted to their fresh burgers and delicious sauce.
Tony's Lunch
no phone number
Girardville, PA
"Diner"- Pine Grove, PA
Last night my wife and I were on the way home from some New Year's time with my in-laws. That food was good.
On the way home, we were looking for something to eat, and we stopped off of the Pine Grove exit on I-81 coming up through Schuylkill County. We noticed that there was a relatively new place there. The name?
"Diner."
Yep. That's it. You can't get any more generic than that!
So, we wanted something more substantial than a McDonald's or Subway, so we decided to stop and have a meal at "Diner".
Michelle got a hot dog and fries. I got the "breaded chicken tenderloin" platter.
Otherwise, chicken fingers.
The total, with drinks, was $20. The chicken fingers were fine, but there's both "chicken fingers" and "breaded chicken tenderloin" on the menu. Seemingly, there's no difference in what they are, even though the chicken fingers are roughly $3 cheaper. It came with some mediocre Italian Wedding Soup, fries, and applesauce that was apparently the "no sugar added" kind, because it tasted as bland as bland could be.
The hot dog was almost $6 and not worth it. Michelle was expecting, for the price, a nice, big, meaty all-beef dog. Instead, it looked like it came from a regular pack of Berks Hot Dogs. This was a $15 meal for two at best. The fries were the same fries you could have anywhere.
The worst part was that the waitresses obviously didn't want our business. They had an attitude, not just to us, but to the whole of the restaurant. And to a point, I get it. It's Year's Day, you want to be home with your families, but instead, you're working at a lame diner that literally only has the name "Diner" on its facade. Still, I expect at least some professionalism.
Lesson learned? Avoid generically named places like "Diner".
"Diner"
(aka Gooseberry Farms Travel Plaza, thanks to Google)
490 Suedberg Road, Pine Grove, PA 17963-8830(570) 345-8800
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