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!
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