Hi everyone,
I realized I almost let the entire year of 2016 go without a post. So here is the only one for this year.
My personal life was crazy this year- adding and subtracting kids through foster care will do that to you.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Coal Town Diner- Shamokin, PA
Shamokin needed this.
We lost Harry's Grill back in December of 2014. Harry's was a place you were guaranteed to get a good meal. I had always hoped to do a write up on the restaurant here, but never got around to it. RIP Harry's. I hope someone buys you and brings you back the way we remember you.
So with the closing of Harry's Grill, that left a huge hole in the already slim pickings of a restaurant scene here in Shamokin.
Enter the Coal Town Diner and a few others. I'll hopefully get around to the others at some point, but right now, let me talk about this "new" restaurant.
It's not totally new because for years it was known as a billiards hall, but they renamed the place (it was previously called Knocker's), took out the pool tables, and put some elbow grease into making it a good restaurant.
Now, let me give my one critique- this is not, as it is named, a "Diner". "Diner" to me says greasy spoon style restaurant that is open 24 hours a day, or at least late night. There's another Diner around here, the Palmer Diner, that to me, is not a true "Diner". Maybe I'm just used to the term applying to the late night so-so restaurants that my buddies and I would frequent when I was in my teenage and college years. Some who read this will probably disagree with me on the diner thing. Eh.
Regardless of what marks a true "Diner", I will say that the Coal Town Diner serves some great food. They post a special on their Facebook page just about every day, and I will say that I have enjoyed many of them.
Last week I enjoyed their Spaghetti and Meatballs. This was homemade sauce and Meatballs that do not come prepackaged. Those meatballs had me in heaven, with a healthy amount of spice in them. The whole thing came to $7.99, which means my wife and I could have dinner for under $20. Not bad for takeout, especially considering that it also included a salad and bread.
Everything seems made with care, and the people already know me despite that I've not been a regular customer for even a month at this point. They are nice, friendly, and you might get in an interesting conversation with a fellow customer.
They do have some coal region specialties from time to time. My first time at the Coal Town Diner I had a Kielbasa sub, which was probably the best thing I've had there. This was old-style polish Kielbasa made in a crockpot, with onions that tasted very much like sauerkraut. In fact, sitting there, I asked what kind of sauerkraut it was, only to be informed that they were in fact onions. I hope they bring that one back soon. (Hint, hint.)
I only have two criticisms, and they are as follows: 1.) their specials are so good that they should just be a part of the regular menu, and 2.) they do not serve dessert. Now, the second one can be taken care of, as Maurer's Dairy is next door, but if you want more than ice cream, you're out of luck. I bet that their kitchen could produce some decent cakes and pies.
So if you live in Shamokin, do give this place a try. They seem to be doing great on the business end, which is good to see, but I want to see this place thrive for a long, long time.
Coal Town Diner
30 South Market Street
Shamokin, PA
(570) 644-1844
We lost Harry's Grill back in December of 2014. Harry's was a place you were guaranteed to get a good meal. I had always hoped to do a write up on the restaurant here, but never got around to it. RIP Harry's. I hope someone buys you and brings you back the way we remember you.
So with the closing of Harry's Grill, that left a huge hole in the already slim pickings of a restaurant scene here in Shamokin.
Enter the Coal Town Diner and a few others. I'll hopefully get around to the others at some point, but right now, let me talk about this "new" restaurant.
It's not totally new because for years it was known as a billiards hall, but they renamed the place (it was previously called Knocker's), took out the pool tables, and put some elbow grease into making it a good restaurant.
Now, let me give my one critique- this is not, as it is named, a "Diner". "Diner" to me says greasy spoon style restaurant that is open 24 hours a day, or at least late night. There's another Diner around here, the Palmer Diner, that to me, is not a true "Diner". Maybe I'm just used to the term applying to the late night so-so restaurants that my buddies and I would frequent when I was in my teenage and college years. Some who read this will probably disagree with me on the diner thing. Eh.
Regardless of what marks a true "Diner", I will say that the Coal Town Diner serves some great food. They post a special on their Facebook page just about every day, and I will say that I have enjoyed many of them.
Last week I enjoyed their Spaghetti and Meatballs. This was homemade sauce and Meatballs that do not come prepackaged. Those meatballs had me in heaven, with a healthy amount of spice in them. The whole thing came to $7.99, which means my wife and I could have dinner for under $20. Not bad for takeout, especially considering that it also included a salad and bread.
Everything seems made with care, and the people already know me despite that I've not been a regular customer for even a month at this point. They are nice, friendly, and you might get in an interesting conversation with a fellow customer.
They do have some coal region specialties from time to time. My first time at the Coal Town Diner I had a Kielbasa sub, which was probably the best thing I've had there. This was old-style polish Kielbasa made in a crockpot, with onions that tasted very much like sauerkraut. In fact, sitting there, I asked what kind of sauerkraut it was, only to be informed that they were in fact onions. I hope they bring that one back soon. (Hint, hint.)
I only have two criticisms, and they are as follows: 1.) their specials are so good that they should just be a part of the regular menu, and 2.) they do not serve dessert. Now, the second one can be taken care of, as Maurer's Dairy is next door, but if you want more than ice cream, you're out of luck. I bet that their kitchen could produce some decent cakes and pies.
So if you live in Shamokin, do give this place a try. They seem to be doing great on the business end, which is good to see, but I want to see this place thrive for a long, long time.
Coal Town Diner
30 South Market Street
Shamokin, PA
(570) 644-1844
Saturday, January 3, 2015
To Roma Pizza in Pottsville:
This is not Bruschetta. I asked everyone, and they all said the same thing.
This.
Is.
Not.
Bruschetta.
This.
Is.
Not.
Bruschetta.
So let me look it up:
Per Wikipedia:
Bruschetta (Italian pronunciation: [bruˈsketta] (
)) is an antipasto from Italy consisting of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper. Variations may include toppings of tomato, vegetables, beans, cured meat, or cheese; the most popular recipe outside of Italy involves basil, fresh tomato, garlic and onion or mozzarella. Bruschetta is usually served as a snack or appetizer. In some countries, a topping of chopped tomato, olive oil and herbs is marketed under the bruschetta name.[1]
)) is an antipasto from Italy consisting of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper. Variations may include toppings of tomato, vegetables, beans, cured meat, or cheese; the most popular recipe outside of Italy involves basil, fresh tomato, garlic and onion or mozzarella. Bruschetta is usually served as a snack or appetizer. In some countries, a topping of chopped tomato, olive oil and herbs is marketed under the bruschetta name.[1]
So maybe in a very loose way, it fits, but check out the sample picture of Bruschetta from the web:
Now, as a reminder, let's compare that with Roma Pizza's "interpretation". Go ahead. Look up.
Which would you rather eat?
See the thing is, Roma Pizza's pizza was actually decent. But this was not.
Bruschetta fail!
Bernie the Legend
Some might say to me, "she was just a waitress." But there's more to that when it comes to Bernie, the long-tenured worker at Tony's Lunch in Girardville.
I was maybe 16 or 17 years old the first time I wandered into Tony's Lunch. I definitely know that I was in high school, towards the end of my time as a student at North Schuylkill.
From the moment I stepped inside that restaurant, I knew that I had found a place that would stick with me. From the endless stream of interesting characters that would wander in late at night, to the wonderful homemade burgers and fresh cut fries, Tony's Lunch has long remained one of my favorite places to eat.
I haven't been there in recent years as much. Marriage, a job, and a steady daytime "normal running hour" life will do that to you. Still, every time I've gone there, it's like coming home again.
This past week I learned that Bernie, the iconic waitress at Tony's Lunch, was retiring. I had no idea how long Bernie had been working there. It seemed like her presence was a constant, and for many of us, she embodied the restaurant. She was timeless.
Bernie seemed to always be there, patient with a sometimes rough-around-the edges clientele (this was a late night place, after all), pen and paper in hand, waiting to take your order. I can remember a brief time a decade ago when the Atkins diet was a fad, and I found myself trying it out. Sure enough, Bernie brought me out two hamburger patties, topped with cheese and sauce. She proceeded to yell, "leave him alone!" at my friends who were ridiculing me for my order.
She was always there. And it seemed like it would always be the case. She waited on generations. I remember my mother saying, "she's still there?" when I told her about my journeys to Tony's.
She was always there in the background as my friends and I spent countless hours sitting in a booth debating politics, the state of Philadelphia sports teams, world events, and an endless assortment of other topics. Sometimes I'd wonder what the heck she thought about the insane conversations we were having.
Regardless, at the end of the night, she was always there behind the register, ready to take your payment and thanking you for coming in.
I had the honor of ordering a Fluffburger once at Tony's (and that was enough for me). If you don't know, a Fluffburger is a regular Tony's "Screamer" with the addition of marshmallow fluff. Bernie would always give a roll of the eyes when someone would order it, and sure enough, there it was when I ordered mine.
I could go on and on about Bernie. I could talk about the time I stood behind the counter at Chick-fil-A of the Schuylkill Mall, waiting to take a customer's order and heard someone say, "now it's your turn to wait on me!" There stood Bernie smiling.
Anyway, after 59(!) years of working at Tony's Lunch, Bernie retired this Past Monday. Who knows how many screamers and growlers, chocolate milks, and french fries she's brought to people over the years. But I knew that I had to be there.
At 7:05 I arrived, almost good half hour before Tony's opens. There was already a line, and I was #12.
You probably can't see it due to the size of the picture, but this was the moment where Bernie had arrived for one last shift. She's standing in a black coat, and she was met by applause by the people gathered in line. I believe there were about 25 of us standing at that point.
One of the local news stations showed up ten minutes later, and began to interview me. At that point, the door opened, causing the line to enter the store, and me to abruptly end my interview in the strangest way- cheering for a burger ("Go Screamers!" was the line). There was Bernie at the door, waiting to hug everyone who came inside. I could tell that she was holding back tears.
Upon getting in and waiting for my order, I heard the official story that I hadn't known until that night: Bernie had worked there for 59 years, originally working for her uncle and grandmother, who had jointly owned Tony's when it originally opened. They then sold it to the Salukas family, who has owned it ever since. Originally agreeing to work for them for another month or so after the sale, months turned into years and Bernie has been there ever since.
I don't mean to take anything away from Joe and Claire Salukas, because they have made the restaurant what it is today, but for most everyone who has been inside Tony's, Bernie is the next thing you think about after the food when you think about Tony's. When a local musical group made a parody of "Sweet Home Alabama" about the region, Tony's was mentioned, and Bernie was name dropped in the song. When people talk about Tony's, Bernie's name is mentioned almost immediately.
I placed an order, and my friend Larry came to sit next to me at the counter. We talked about a bunch of things, but I kept thinking how Tony's was a big part of the start of our friendship. Our friends used to gather there, at our peak 4 times a week, and we would have lengthy conversations over burgers and sodas.
I thought about the night Bernie retired. Behind me in line was someone I had not seen in years, who worked with me at Chick-fil-A. Behind her was a friend from high school. Tony's Lunch has been bringing people together for years. And Bernie has been there through it all.
Here was that night's order, delicious as usual:
And here is a picture of Larry and I with Bernie on her last night:
Local ABC Affiliate WNEP 16 even stopped by to interview Bernie:
It was a great night. The staff at Tony's had a cake, and everyone got a cupcake. Everyone who came came to see Bernie one last time and thank her for a long career of serving.
I will be a customer at Tony's for years to come, but it sure won't be the same without her.
Go screamers!
I was maybe 16 or 17 years old the first time I wandered into Tony's Lunch. I definitely know that I was in high school, towards the end of my time as a student at North Schuylkill.
From the moment I stepped inside that restaurant, I knew that I had found a place that would stick with me. From the endless stream of interesting characters that would wander in late at night, to the wonderful homemade burgers and fresh cut fries, Tony's Lunch has long remained one of my favorite places to eat.
I haven't been there in recent years as much. Marriage, a job, and a steady daytime "normal running hour" life will do that to you. Still, every time I've gone there, it's like coming home again.
This past week I learned that Bernie, the iconic waitress at Tony's Lunch, was retiring. I had no idea how long Bernie had been working there. It seemed like her presence was a constant, and for many of us, she embodied the restaurant. She was timeless.
Bernie seemed to always be there, patient with a sometimes rough-around-the edges clientele (this was a late night place, after all), pen and paper in hand, waiting to take your order. I can remember a brief time a decade ago when the Atkins diet was a fad, and I found myself trying it out. Sure enough, Bernie brought me out two hamburger patties, topped with cheese and sauce. She proceeded to yell, "leave him alone!" at my friends who were ridiculing me for my order.
She was always there. And it seemed like it would always be the case. She waited on generations. I remember my mother saying, "she's still there?" when I told her about my journeys to Tony's.
She was always there in the background as my friends and I spent countless hours sitting in a booth debating politics, the state of Philadelphia sports teams, world events, and an endless assortment of other topics. Sometimes I'd wonder what the heck she thought about the insane conversations we were having.
Regardless, at the end of the night, she was always there behind the register, ready to take your payment and thanking you for coming in.
I had the honor of ordering a Fluffburger once at Tony's (and that was enough for me). If you don't know, a Fluffburger is a regular Tony's "Screamer" with the addition of marshmallow fluff. Bernie would always give a roll of the eyes when someone would order it, and sure enough, there it was when I ordered mine.
I could go on and on about Bernie. I could talk about the time I stood behind the counter at Chick-fil-A of the Schuylkill Mall, waiting to take a customer's order and heard someone say, "now it's your turn to wait on me!" There stood Bernie smiling.
Anyway, after 59(!) years of working at Tony's Lunch, Bernie retired this Past Monday. Who knows how many screamers and growlers, chocolate milks, and french fries she's brought to people over the years. But I knew that I had to be there.
At 7:05 I arrived, almost good half hour before Tony's opens. There was already a line, and I was #12.
You probably can't see it due to the size of the picture, but this was the moment where Bernie had arrived for one last shift. She's standing in a black coat, and she was met by applause by the people gathered in line. I believe there were about 25 of us standing at that point.
One of the local news stations showed up ten minutes later, and began to interview me. At that point, the door opened, causing the line to enter the store, and me to abruptly end my interview in the strangest way- cheering for a burger ("Go Screamers!" was the line). There was Bernie at the door, waiting to hug everyone who came inside. I could tell that she was holding back tears.
Upon getting in and waiting for my order, I heard the official story that I hadn't known until that night: Bernie had worked there for 59 years, originally working for her uncle and grandmother, who had jointly owned Tony's when it originally opened. They then sold it to the Salukas family, who has owned it ever since. Originally agreeing to work for them for another month or so after the sale, months turned into years and Bernie has been there ever since.
I don't mean to take anything away from Joe and Claire Salukas, because they have made the restaurant what it is today, but for most everyone who has been inside Tony's, Bernie is the next thing you think about after the food when you think about Tony's. When a local musical group made a parody of "Sweet Home Alabama" about the region, Tony's was mentioned, and Bernie was name dropped in the song. When people talk about Tony's, Bernie's name is mentioned almost immediately.
I placed an order, and my friend Larry came to sit next to me at the counter. We talked about a bunch of things, but I kept thinking how Tony's was a big part of the start of our friendship. Our friends used to gather there, at our peak 4 times a week, and we would have lengthy conversations over burgers and sodas.
I thought about the night Bernie retired. Behind me in line was someone I had not seen in years, who worked with me at Chick-fil-A. Behind her was a friend from high school. Tony's Lunch has been bringing people together for years. And Bernie has been there through it all.
Here was that night's order, delicious as usual:
And here is a picture of Larry and I with Bernie on her last night:
Local ABC Affiliate WNEP 16 even stopped by to interview Bernie:
It was a great night. The staff at Tony's had a cake, and everyone got a cupcake. Everyone who came came to see Bernie one last time and thank her for a long career of serving.
I will be a customer at Tony's for years to come, but it sure won't be the same without her.
Go screamers!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Pine Burr Inn- Mount Carmel, PA
A few years ago, I frequented this place for Friday night Karaoke. It had a good crowd, and people never complained about the food.
Flash forward about five years, and my wife and I are hungry on a Friday night. Since Mount Carmel is only a short drive from Shamokin, I suggested we check out the Pine Burr Inn. It sits atop Mount Carmel, overlooking the borough. It's also a hotel, but I don't know much about its reputation as a hotel.
So we get there, and the sign is nice and bright, advertising a wing special and "KARAOKE TONIGHT"! The place has tinted windows, but I could see light from the outside, so it appeared to be open.
I pull at the door, and it's not budging.
Try again. Nope.
I looked up the restaurant's phone number, and called it to see if maybe someone from the inside accidentally locked the front door. Then I looked in the dining area, which I could see from the outside when standing close to the building. Not a soul. A light was from the other side.
Where was the "KARAOKE TONIGHT"??? Certainly not here.
I hear the Pine Burr has decent wings. They were supposed to be open at 8:00 on a Friday night. I was really hungry for wings. Now that I'm on a healthier diet (more on that in a future post), I won't be having many wings. So they missed out on Plenty-of-Wing-Eatin' Brian. Now they have the guy who forces veggies down his throat begrudgingly.
Did they go out of business? Hard to believe.
My wife reminded me that once we went here for lunch and they were closed then too, even though they were supposed to be open according to the hours on the door.
I could have said wonderful things about you, Pine Burr Inn. But now all you are is a restaurant that wasn't open when you said you would be.
Flash forward about five years, and my wife and I are hungry on a Friday night. Since Mount Carmel is only a short drive from Shamokin, I suggested we check out the Pine Burr Inn. It sits atop Mount Carmel, overlooking the borough. It's also a hotel, but I don't know much about its reputation as a hotel.
So we get there, and the sign is nice and bright, advertising a wing special and "KARAOKE TONIGHT"! The place has tinted windows, but I could see light from the outside, so it appeared to be open.
I pull at the door, and it's not budging.
Try again. Nope.
I looked up the restaurant's phone number, and called it to see if maybe someone from the inside accidentally locked the front door. Then I looked in the dining area, which I could see from the outside when standing close to the building. Not a soul. A light was from the other side.
Where was the "KARAOKE TONIGHT"??? Certainly not here.
I hear the Pine Burr has decent wings. They were supposed to be open at 8:00 on a Friday night. I was really hungry for wings. Now that I'm on a healthier diet (more on that in a future post), I won't be having many wings. So they missed out on Plenty-of-Wing-Eatin' Brian. Now they have the guy who forces veggies down his throat begrudgingly.
Did they go out of business? Hard to believe.
My wife reminded me that once we went here for lunch and they were closed then too, even though they were supposed to be open according to the hours on the door.
I could have said wonderful things about you, Pine Burr Inn. But now all you are is a restaurant that wasn't open when you said you would be.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
La Playa Cancun- Bloomsburg, PA
Apparently La Playa Cancun used to be in Danville before it moved to the end of the strip of businesses on the edge of Bloomsburg on Route 11. Currently Danville has another Mexican restaurant that I'll get into in another review, but if history has anything to say about it, Danville seems to have a history of gaining and then losing Mexican restaurants.
It's Bloomsburg's gain. La Playa Cancun sits in a mini-mall strip next to a Loan Agency and a Rite Aid, and almost every time I've eaten there, it's not been exactly stuffed with clientele. In fact, there have been times where my wife and I have been the only two people in the restaurant.
Except this past Friday, that is. We were looking for a place to go on Valentine's Day, and wouldn't you know it, every restaurant was absolutely packed with people. We thought that we would drive to La Playa Cancun, because usually we've had no wait to get seated. This time, however, we would wait a loooooooong time.
It's not La Playa Cancun's fault that it happened to be the night where most couples go out to share in a nice meal. However, there were tables there that sat empty, and people weren't being seated at them. I though that maybe they were reserved, because the person at the front desk kept asking for reservations- but then I watched for the rest of the night, and THEY NEVER SAT ANYONE AT THESE TABLES.
At one point, a lady came up to the counter, visibly angry, and complained that they sat there a whole hour and still had not received their food. They apologized and explained that they were busy. I'm sorry, but an hour? Even a busy night is no excuse for that amount of time.
Okay, let me stop ranting about waiting. Part of that is my issue because, as my wife would tell you, waiting in line is not something I'm very good at. I get antsy. I make snide remarks. I do things to ease my frustration, such as turning all of the business cards backwards on the display on the front counter, and make sculptures with the toothpicks and peppermints that sat there.
La Playa Cancun usually boasts great food. I have had fajitas, an assortment of burritos, and seafood dishes, and they have all been 1.) quickly prepared and 2.) full of great Mexican flavor. La Playa Cancun is a pretty "by the numbers" Mexican restaurant, especially compared to La Casita de la Familia in Shenandoah, but they do "by the numbers" pretty well. They are always willing to refill your chips and salsa (their salsa is pretty good, too), and I have yet to have a subpar meal.
I can't say that my meal on Friday night was "subpar". I can say that there were little things that were "off" about it. I had the Burrito Texano, which was a steak burrito that had rice and beans mixed inside with a red sauce poured over the top. By the way, we did end up waiting about 45 minutes for our food to be served.
My steak was very, very tough. I tried "bringing it back to life" with the red sauce, but that didn't work very well. It was like eating a beef jerky burrito, which isn't bad because I like beef jerky, but that's also obviously not what they were going for.
My wife had the El Burro Chocho, which is a chicken burrito topped with a ranchero cheese sauce. She has had this dish practically every time we've eaten here, and again, it was a bit "off". The chicken was extremely well done, while it has usually been perfectly tender and juicy. The cheese sauce was dried on the top of the burrito, as if the whole thing had been cooked too long.
We've never eaten here before when the place has been crowded. Usually I've enjoyed what I've had, but on this night, I found myself disappointed. I will say this- if you have a pretty good menu, as I feel La Playa Cancun does, you need to be able to show it off on a night when you know your business is going to be more than the usual.
I would recommend that you would go there anytime BUT dinnertime on a Friday night. You'll have good food if you go on the off hours. They will take care of you, be concerned that you are enjoying your meal, and be willing to go the extra mile for you. On Friday night, it will all of a sudden turn into an experience where you are left waiting for your food for a while, and then when it does come, you'll be fairly disappointed.
It's Bloomsburg's gain. La Playa Cancun sits in a mini-mall strip next to a Loan Agency and a Rite Aid, and almost every time I've eaten there, it's not been exactly stuffed with clientele. In fact, there have been times where my wife and I have been the only two people in the restaurant.
Except this past Friday, that is. We were looking for a place to go on Valentine's Day, and wouldn't you know it, every restaurant was absolutely packed with people. We thought that we would drive to La Playa Cancun, because usually we've had no wait to get seated. This time, however, we would wait a loooooooong time.
It's not La Playa Cancun's fault that it happened to be the night where most couples go out to share in a nice meal. However, there were tables there that sat empty, and people weren't being seated at them. I though that maybe they were reserved, because the person at the front desk kept asking for reservations- but then I watched for the rest of the night, and THEY NEVER SAT ANYONE AT THESE TABLES.
At one point, a lady came up to the counter, visibly angry, and complained that they sat there a whole hour and still had not received their food. They apologized and explained that they were busy. I'm sorry, but an hour? Even a busy night is no excuse for that amount of time.
Okay, let me stop ranting about waiting. Part of that is my issue because, as my wife would tell you, waiting in line is not something I'm very good at. I get antsy. I make snide remarks. I do things to ease my frustration, such as turning all of the business cards backwards on the display on the front counter, and make sculptures with the toothpicks and peppermints that sat there.
La Playa Cancun usually boasts great food. I have had fajitas, an assortment of burritos, and seafood dishes, and they have all been 1.) quickly prepared and 2.) full of great Mexican flavor. La Playa Cancun is a pretty "by the numbers" Mexican restaurant, especially compared to La Casita de la Familia in Shenandoah, but they do "by the numbers" pretty well. They are always willing to refill your chips and salsa (their salsa is pretty good, too), and I have yet to have a subpar meal.
I can't say that my meal on Friday night was "subpar". I can say that there were little things that were "off" about it. I had the Burrito Texano, which was a steak burrito that had rice and beans mixed inside with a red sauce poured over the top. By the way, we did end up waiting about 45 minutes for our food to be served.
My steak was very, very tough. I tried "bringing it back to life" with the red sauce, but that didn't work very well. It was like eating a beef jerky burrito, which isn't bad because I like beef jerky, but that's also obviously not what they were going for.
My wife had the El Burro Chocho, which is a chicken burrito topped with a ranchero cheese sauce. She has had this dish practically every time we've eaten here, and again, it was a bit "off". The chicken was extremely well done, while it has usually been perfectly tender and juicy. The cheese sauce was dried on the top of the burrito, as if the whole thing had been cooked too long.
We've never eaten here before when the place has been crowded. Usually I've enjoyed what I've had, but on this night, I found myself disappointed. I will say this- if you have a pretty good menu, as I feel La Playa Cancun does, you need to be able to show it off on a night when you know your business is going to be more than the usual.
I would recommend that you would go there anytime BUT dinnertime on a Friday night. You'll have good food if you go on the off hours. They will take care of you, be concerned that you are enjoying your meal, and be willing to go the extra mile for you. On Friday night, it will all of a sudden turn into an experience where you are left waiting for your food for a while, and then when it does come, you'll be fairly disappointed.
Monday, February 3, 2014
La Casita De Familia- Shenandoah, PA
There's simply no way to talk about Shenandoah in the 21st century without noting the racial divide that currently marks the town, and really, the entire coal region. I don't know exactly how to get into this without laying my personal feelings out on the table, so if I offend here, I really do apologize.
Sometime in the late 1990's, a large hispanic population became evident in the small town of Shenandoah. When I was a teenager, my perception was that it happened overnight, however I'm willing to bet that my perception was not reality. I have previously shared my issues with Shenandoah earlier on this blog, when I reviewed The Lyric. Growing up in Frackville, Shenandoah was like the elephant graveyard in the Lion King:
Shenandoah was a great place to go if you wanted to get into a fistfight. It was a place where people would yell at you randomly from their porch while driving through town, most of the time nonsensically, but you got the idea that they were not happy with your presence (and I can attest to that- it has happened to me more than once).
Anyway, like I said earlier, Shenandoah has had an influx of people of Hispanic descent. Many who live there don't like this, and racial tensions have been an issue for quite some time. It hit its peak surrounding the killing of an illegal immigrant by some boys who were underage drinking back in 2008, but that is a long story for another time. If you want to start an argument in Shenandoah, bringing up the incident is a good way to do it.
Regardless of your feelings on immigration or the presence of people from other countries, here's the deal: They are here now. They are people. They are us, more than we whites admit. I hate talking about this in a "them and us" way, but that is the way some look at it, and it is tragic. If we treat "them" with the respect "we" ourselves would like to get, things will be easier for us all. That doesn't mean getting taken advantage of. We are all children from the same source. Let's act like it. *end soapbox*
I noticed a little Mexican restaurant near the main intersection a few months ago when I was in town for a meeting. I remember thinking that it made sense given the population change in Shenandoah. I made a little mental note to myself to check it out, and a few Fridays ago, my wife and I did just that.
I hope if you read this and haven't checked out this little slice of heaven, you go ahead and give it a try.
The first thing that happens at La Casita is that the waitress comes up and offers you chips and salsa. I have been to plenty of Mexican restaurants before, in Harrisburg, Chambersburg, Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, Bloomsburg, Danville, and places in between. I have never, ever, EVER had chips and salsa like this. The chips are thicker than your normal tortilla chip, which makes them excellent for dipping. The salsa is a different texture than your normal restaurant salsa. It is less chunky, more soupy, which might sound like a bad thing, except it isn't. The salsa has a good smoky flavor to it, and combined with the thicker chips, you get a pretty good mix. Honestly, I would come here just for the chips and salsa, they're that good.
The menu is different than many Mexican restaurants. Like I said, I have been to quite a few in Pennsylvania, and there is a sameness to them. La Casita deviates from the norm in a good way. They have their menu broken up into sections based on their geographical origin, including a whole Tex-Mex part that I will get to on my next visit.
I had chorizo gorditas. In the spirit of full disclosure, let me say that previously, my only exposure to gorditas was as a menu item at Taco Bell:
That is not exactly what the gorditas at La Casita look like. Here is an image of gorditas online that look closer to the ones they actually serve:
Less taco-y, and more sandwich slider-y. So in a sense, I had ordered Mexican sausage sliders. There was probably about twice as much meat in the sandwich as in the above picture. There was a great amount of sour cream and lettuce, and it all mixed together to make a creamy and spicy dance on my tongue with some good crunch because of the veggie factor.
There were three on the plate, and they came with an order of refried beans and cheese. By the time I was done eating, I was stuffed.
My wife got something too, which she enjoyed, but I cannot remember what it was. I do remember, however, that our total meal was less than $20. In this day and age, that is a deal!
I didn't know what to expect when I went in. What I got was a great meal, friendly service, and a great overall experience. The food came pretty quickly, and it was delicious.
If you want a great meal, and something different than the other restaurants in the area, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this restaurant a try.
La Casita de Familia
8 E Centre St, Shenandoah, PA 17976
(570)462-1994
Sometime in the late 1990's, a large hispanic population became evident in the small town of Shenandoah. When I was a teenager, my perception was that it happened overnight, however I'm willing to bet that my perception was not reality. I have previously shared my issues with Shenandoah earlier on this blog, when I reviewed The Lyric. Growing up in Frackville, Shenandoah was like the elephant graveyard in the Lion King:
Shenandoah was a great place to go if you wanted to get into a fistfight. It was a place where people would yell at you randomly from their porch while driving through town, most of the time nonsensically, but you got the idea that they were not happy with your presence (and I can attest to that- it has happened to me more than once).
Anyway, like I said earlier, Shenandoah has had an influx of people of Hispanic descent. Many who live there don't like this, and racial tensions have been an issue for quite some time. It hit its peak surrounding the killing of an illegal immigrant by some boys who were underage drinking back in 2008, but that is a long story for another time. If you want to start an argument in Shenandoah, bringing up the incident is a good way to do it.
Regardless of your feelings on immigration or the presence of people from other countries, here's the deal: They are here now. They are people. They are us, more than we whites admit. I hate talking about this in a "them and us" way, but that is the way some look at it, and it is tragic. If we treat "them" with the respect "we" ourselves would like to get, things will be easier for us all. That doesn't mean getting taken advantage of. We are all children from the same source. Let's act like it. *end soapbox*
I noticed a little Mexican restaurant near the main intersection a few months ago when I was in town for a meeting. I remember thinking that it made sense given the population change in Shenandoah. I made a little mental note to myself to check it out, and a few Fridays ago, my wife and I did just that.
I hope if you read this and haven't checked out this little slice of heaven, you go ahead and give it a try.
The first thing that happens at La Casita is that the waitress comes up and offers you chips and salsa. I have been to plenty of Mexican restaurants before, in Harrisburg, Chambersburg, Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, Bloomsburg, Danville, and places in between. I have never, ever, EVER had chips and salsa like this. The chips are thicker than your normal tortilla chip, which makes them excellent for dipping. The salsa is a different texture than your normal restaurant salsa. It is less chunky, more soupy, which might sound like a bad thing, except it isn't. The salsa has a good smoky flavor to it, and combined with the thicker chips, you get a pretty good mix. Honestly, I would come here just for the chips and salsa, they're that good.
The menu is different than many Mexican restaurants. Like I said, I have been to quite a few in Pennsylvania, and there is a sameness to them. La Casita deviates from the norm in a good way. They have their menu broken up into sections based on their geographical origin, including a whole Tex-Mex part that I will get to on my next visit.
I had chorizo gorditas. In the spirit of full disclosure, let me say that previously, my only exposure to gorditas was as a menu item at Taco Bell:
Less taco-y, and more sandwich slider-y. So in a sense, I had ordered Mexican sausage sliders. There was probably about twice as much meat in the sandwich as in the above picture. There was a great amount of sour cream and lettuce, and it all mixed together to make a creamy and spicy dance on my tongue with some good crunch because of the veggie factor.
There were three on the plate, and they came with an order of refried beans and cheese. By the time I was done eating, I was stuffed.
My wife got something too, which she enjoyed, but I cannot remember what it was. I do remember, however, that our total meal was less than $20. In this day and age, that is a deal!
I didn't know what to expect when I went in. What I got was a great meal, friendly service, and a great overall experience. The food came pretty quickly, and it was delicious.
If you want a great meal, and something different than the other restaurants in the area, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this restaurant a try.
La Casita de Familia
8 E Centre St, Shenandoah, PA 17976
(570)462-1994
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Coney Island Lunch- Shamokin, PA
Living in Shamokin for over two years now, I have heard many of the longtime residents here talk about how nice the town used to be. Independence Street, which is essentially the main business section of Shamokin, used to boast a JC Penney's Department Store, a movie theatre, and a Woolworth's, among other things.
As time has passed, many of these businesses have given way to a plethora of thrift stores, bars, and restaurants. The bars have probably always been there, but the fact remains that Independence Street has seen better days. Many of the buildings could use either a razing or a cleaning up, and some of the vacant storefronts (specifically the former balloon and birthday party outlet) could really use some repair.
Regardless, the Coney Island Lunch still remains. It has been a long standing business for 95 years, owned by the same family and still cranking out the same menu- hamburgers and hot dogs.
When you walk into the Coney Island Lunch, you are instantly transported back to a time that has long since passed. The long lunch counter is still there, the extremely high ceiling and salmon-colored walls a harkening back to either the 1930s or 1940s. They must still make that color paint, but I haven't seen it anywhere else. Right now, being that it is December, this restaurant boasts one of the largest Christmas trees in town. I also have to mention the sign. This lighted, neon beauty has become a symbol of Shamokin itself. There is a mural that has been painted on the side of one of the Independence Street Buildings that includes many of the symbols of the city, and the Coney Island Lunch sign is front and center.
It makes me nostalgic for a time I never have known myself. You can imagine the old coal miners coming in, grabbing their lunch, and heading back for an afternoon full of hard work.
That being said, the building does show its age a bit. The counter is haphazardly taped together in at least one spot (where I happened to eat today), and they could use some new chairs. A few months ago, I sat at a table with my friend Eric, and my chair legs were definitely uneven. Here's the thing about the age of the place though- I wouldn't want them to renovate it. It is too unique for this day to do such a thing.
The prices are not old fashioned, though. I had two chili dogs and a bottle of water today, and the total came to $8.70. I brought eight bucks with me, figuring it would maybe around $5 or $6 for what I wanted. I figured that the bottle of water would be a buck and maybe the chili dogs would be $2.50 each. Note: the prices at the Coney Island are not easily seen. I looked around and couldn't find a menu. If you don't know what the prices are, you're out of luck as far as I can tell.
I was out of luck, running 70 cents short. I explained this to the very kind woman behind the counter, and told her that I would run out to my car for some more cash, at which point she told me, "don't' worry about it buddy, I'll put it in for you."
You're not going to get that kind of treatment in many places today, that's for sure. Everytime I have been in Coney Island Lunch, I have been treated well by its employees. This particular lady is going to get a gift card for her kindness.
The Coney Island serves old fashioned glass bottle soda made by the nearby Catawissa Bottling Company. It is a good fit for this place, though the sugar probably isn't the best for you. I guess health isn't really a consideration when you are talking about a hamburger and hot dog joint. Oh, and one interesting thing about the bottles? They are small, because they're about the same size people used to drink. You really get a view of how portion size has gone out of control over the years when you take a look at one of these bottles.
As for the food, it is good enough. I can't say that either the hamburgers or hot dogs blow me out of the water, but they taste fine for what they are. I will say that they get a little bit of a downgrade from me because of how expensive they are. The hot dogs I had today had a fair beefy, salty taste, with a nice crisp skin (I asked for mine well done), with the chili giving a decent smoky flavor, but not sweet at all like others I have tasted. The hamburgers are hamburgers (or cheeseburgers if that is your preference)- they are better than the kind you get at McDonald's, but you can make the same thing at home if you want.
I highly recommend this place for the atmosphere, and the food's okay too.
Coney Island Lunch
218 E Independence St, Shamokin, PA 17872
(570) 648-9249
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Return to Rob's Good Time Grill- Shamokin, PA
Over a year ago, I reviewed Rob's Good Time Grill. It might even have been longer than that, but I have to do my actual job today so I don't really have time to look back in the archives and see.
Regardless, at the time I lamented what had become of this establishment in its transition time between moving from the corner of Mulberry and Market in Shamokin to the bigger, more restaurant friendly location two blocks down (now the corner of Spruce and Market).
I've been back a few times since, but hadn't given an update until now. I had been back before for their bargain 2-Can-Dine-for-$12.99 Sunday afternoon deal, as well as for their Wednesday Night Polish Night (the latter is especially good), but haven't gotten to write about a recent experience until now. Here goes!
My wife and I walked down the street (it's only about two blocks from our house) on a Saturday afternoon to have a late lunch a few weeks ago. We were quickly seated and given our menus.
The first thing you notice when you walk inside of Rob's Good Time Grill is the huge bar and television screens. At least, it was the first thing I noticed. There's also a very large cooler with just about any kind of takeout beer you would want. I glanced by and found Woodchuck Cider, one of my personal favorites but something that not everyone carries around here.
Anyway, I ordered my traditional favorite, the Smokehouse Cheesesteak, while Michelle ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. We also had Onion Dippers as an appetizer. These are very similar to the onion petals that Arby's has as a menu option, except crunchier and with a very, very nice kick that doesn't come in the sauce. I wonder if there's sriracha in the batter.
After those were done, we received our sandwiches. I was nervous about my order, as before I had ordered the Smokehouse Cheesesteak, which is supposed to have barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese, in various variations, some of which included tomato sauce, some of which were just straight barbecue sauce with no cheese, and one which actually matched the menu description. That said, those orders were a long time ago.
My sandwich this time, in the here-and-now, was exactly what it was supposed to be. I did notice that Rob himself was around (I think he was carrying items into the kitchen), as was Pam, his wife, so I'm willing to bet that they've been trying to monitor what comes out of their kitchen (and I do stand corrected- Rob apparently has never cooked in either this restaurant or at the Six Pack Shack). Whatever they've been doing, it's working. The Smokehouse Cheesesteak at Rob's Good Time Grill stands as one of my favorite cheesesteaks I've ever had. The barbecue sauce has a way of mixing with the cheese to create a wonderful, smoky, sweet, spicy taste adventure that is just pure enjoyment.
I also tried their chili coco wings, which sounded different enough to appease me. They were very good, sweet but spicy, with a definite coco undertone. They're probably not everyone's bag, but I could have had more (I ordered a half dozen, which was probably enough with a cheesesteak).
About a week later, Michelle and I decided to call down to Rob's for a takeout order. I once again opted for the Smokehouse Cheesesteak. I wanted to check with the person on the phone that I was getting the right thing, so I asked, "what all comes on that?"
"Uh, well, I don't actually know," the girl on the line said. Then she giggled a little bit.
This did not leave me feeling confident that I was going to get what I wanted. I think she should have been a bit more familiar with the menu. Even if she had one right there, which I know they do, she could have taken a moment or two to look and tell me.
I let the order stand anyway, waited about 20 minutes, and picked up the order.
When I got home, it was once again the correct Smokehouse Cheesesteak in all its glory. Michelle still got the grilled chicken sandwich. It was still good, so she said. She gets those things fairly often because of the health thing. I didn't care that day. I just wanted some good ol' red meat with cheese and barbecue sauce, health be darned.
Anyway, Rob's Good Time Grill's growing pains seem to be over. They've gotten back onto our regular rotation, which means they get our business about 2-3 times a month.
Rob's Good Time Grill
100 S Market St, Shamokin, PA 17872
(570) 648-1191
Regardless, at the time I lamented what had become of this establishment in its transition time between moving from the corner of Mulberry and Market in Shamokin to the bigger, more restaurant friendly location two blocks down (now the corner of Spruce and Market).
I've been back a few times since, but hadn't given an update until now. I had been back before for their bargain 2-Can-Dine-for-$12.99 Sunday afternoon deal, as well as for their Wednesday Night Polish Night (the latter is especially good), but haven't gotten to write about a recent experience until now. Here goes!
My wife and I walked down the street (it's only about two blocks from our house) on a Saturday afternoon to have a late lunch a few weeks ago. We were quickly seated and given our menus.
The first thing you notice when you walk inside of Rob's Good Time Grill is the huge bar and television screens. At least, it was the first thing I noticed. There's also a very large cooler with just about any kind of takeout beer you would want. I glanced by and found Woodchuck Cider, one of my personal favorites but something that not everyone carries around here.
Anyway, I ordered my traditional favorite, the Smokehouse Cheesesteak, while Michelle ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. We also had Onion Dippers as an appetizer. These are very similar to the onion petals that Arby's has as a menu option, except crunchier and with a very, very nice kick that doesn't come in the sauce. I wonder if there's sriracha in the batter.
After those were done, we received our sandwiches. I was nervous about my order, as before I had ordered the Smokehouse Cheesesteak, which is supposed to have barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese, in various variations, some of which included tomato sauce, some of which were just straight barbecue sauce with no cheese, and one which actually matched the menu description. That said, those orders were a long time ago.
My sandwich this time, in the here-and-now, was exactly what it was supposed to be. I did notice that Rob himself was around (I think he was carrying items into the kitchen), as was Pam, his wife, so I'm willing to bet that they've been trying to monitor what comes out of their kitchen (and I do stand corrected- Rob apparently has never cooked in either this restaurant or at the Six Pack Shack). Whatever they've been doing, it's working. The Smokehouse Cheesesteak at Rob's Good Time Grill stands as one of my favorite cheesesteaks I've ever had. The barbecue sauce has a way of mixing with the cheese to create a wonderful, smoky, sweet, spicy taste adventure that is just pure enjoyment.
I also tried their chili coco wings, which sounded different enough to appease me. They were very good, sweet but spicy, with a definite coco undertone. They're probably not everyone's bag, but I could have had more (I ordered a half dozen, which was probably enough with a cheesesteak).
About a week later, Michelle and I decided to call down to Rob's for a takeout order. I once again opted for the Smokehouse Cheesesteak. I wanted to check with the person on the phone that I was getting the right thing, so I asked, "what all comes on that?"
"Uh, well, I don't actually know," the girl on the line said. Then she giggled a little bit.
This did not leave me feeling confident that I was going to get what I wanted. I think she should have been a bit more familiar with the menu. Even if she had one right there, which I know they do, she could have taken a moment or two to look and tell me.
I let the order stand anyway, waited about 20 minutes, and picked up the order.
When I got home, it was once again the correct Smokehouse Cheesesteak in all its glory. Michelle still got the grilled chicken sandwich. It was still good, so she said. She gets those things fairly often because of the health thing. I didn't care that day. I just wanted some good ol' red meat with cheese and barbecue sauce, health be darned.
Anyway, Rob's Good Time Grill's growing pains seem to be over. They've gotten back onto our regular rotation, which means they get our business about 2-3 times a month.
Rob's Good Time Grill
100 S Market St, Shamokin, PA 17872
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Diner Showdown- Kumm Esse vs. Heisey's
Diners are a part of the tableaux of the United States of America, and Pennsylvania is not any different. I have reviewed a diner or two already on this here blog- Frackville's Dutch Kitchen comes to mind, for one.
Lately Michelle and I were cruising down through Lebanon and Lancaster County, and we ended up stopping for lunch and dinner at two separate diners. I thought it would be a neat idea to compare them and see which one is better.
Kumm Esse Diner- Myerstown, PA
We arrived here on a Friday afternoon. My sister-in-law had just moved to a new house, and we stopped by to check it out. About five minutes away stands this diner, which I had driven past hundreds of times in the year I had worked in Lancaster.
Myerstown sits on the intersection of US Route 422 and PA State route 501. 501 is the road I would drive on all the time. Anyway, the name "Kumm Esse" literally means "come eat" in German/Pennsylvania Dutch, a nod to the PA Dutch history of the area. Outside of the name, the next thing you will notice on their signage is "TRY OUR STRAWBERRY PIE" in big blue letters. I have heard of this legendary Strawberry Pie, though I have yet to try it.
If you are looking for a fancy place, this isn't it. But I found the service to be very good, as we had a very attentive waitress. The inside looks old-fashioned, like the diners of my youth. The seats are small, the tables are close together, but it didn't feel uncomfortable. It felt kind of like coming home again. I remember an old small chain of restaurants called the Amity House, which was owned by Weis Markets. The interior of this restaurant reminded me much of that old place. While the inside looked liked it was built sometime between the mid 60's and the late 70's, it was kept up very, very well. No dirt, no dust, just a classic looking place.
Let's get to the food. I ordered the Beef Heart dinner, which came with potato filling, pepper slaw, lettuce with hot bacon dressing, and some banana bread. Yes, I said Beef Heart. As in the part of the body that pumps blood through the cow. I know that some would consider it worthy of Bizarre Foods, but in this part of Pennsylvania (aka "Dutch Country"), this is a common dish for some. I had never had it before, so I was curious.
It was the best decision I made all day. If you didn't know this was beef heart, you'd think you were just having some of the best roast beef you've ever eaten. You got some thick slices, with delicious (I'm guessing) homemade gravy. The whole experience was melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. The texture was a little different, but I truly wonder if that was just because I knew what I was eating. It was satisfying, one of those stick-to-your-ribs meals that can keep you going for the better part of the day. The potato filling that sat under the slices of heart were a perfect compliment, having enough lumps in it that you knew it was homemade but with a delicious, hearty flavor of its own.
Serving banana bread instead of regular rolls is a genius stroke, but I happen to be a fan of banana bread whether it be homemade or from Entemann's. The hot bacon dressing was also homemade, tick and rich, served with enough lettuce that it wasn't soup like some other places. It had a strong, sweet and sour flavor that served as a good side dish. The pepper cabbage was extremely strong, maybe too much so. I still ate the whole thing, as I found it a good counterbalance to the beef heart.
Prices were reasonable, and from what I could tell, this is a favorite of the locals, which is always a good sign.
Let's see how Kumm Esse compares with the other diner I ate at....
Heisey's Diner- Lebanon, PA
It was much later that day, around 9:00 PM. Michelle and I had just seen the excellent movie Enough Said (known mainly because it was James Gandolfini's last film), and now we were driving home looking for something to eat along the way.
I still had the memory of Kumm Esse in my mind, but I wasn't about to drive back to Myerstown. It was getting late, so a lot of the mom-and-pop restaurants in the area were starting to close. We drove completely out of the town of Lebanon towards Interstate 81, and along the side of the road we spotted Heisey's. It looked like a building that has been there for a long, long time. It had "Diner" in its name.
I was excited and pulled over, waiting to hopefully have just as great an experience, if not better, than the lunch of the day.
Heisey's has obviously been around for a long time. When you walk in, you are looking at a classic built prefabricated metal structure, now bricked up and expanded upon. The inside, except for the doorways to the other parts of the building, looks like you could expect Ralph Malph and The Fonz to come strolling in at any minute.
I love old diners. It's tragic when they get "bricked up", as this one had (similar to the Dutch Kitchen in Frackville), but I understand the desire to modernize. It's still cool to sit in one of these things and take a look around at what used to be the standard in American food service.
Anyway, at one point I had to use the bathroom, and walked from room to room to room to room etc. to finally find a very new section, with a fairly clean bathroom. That's always a plus. Also, they have huge rooms that I found out are used for many local groups and clubs, including church groups and things like the Rotary. It's good to know they are involved with the outlying community. That's a plus for Heisey's.
As for the food..... well, it sure is good that Heisey's is involved with the community. Yesiree, it is.
I don't want to be mean. It was edible. But much of it was obviously canned. The pepper cabbage at dinner didn't have any flavor, nor did the grilled pork chops I had. At some point I will add a picture, but the two pork chops looked sad and pathetic sitting there on that oval plate. They weren't with any flavor, either. I salted them like I was trying to give myself high blood pressure (and maybe I did).
I had lettuce with hot bacon dressing here, too, and it wasn't hot nor was it very bacony. It was kinda bland. I continued to be more and more disappointed the more the meal went on.
I dug into the mashed potatoes. Yup, creamy and bland. No flavor to be had here, either.
My meal came with an apple dumpling. It was okay. There's something to be said for the sadness of seeing your server pick one from a tray and put it in the microwave. I'm aware that many restaurants probably heat up things like apple dumplings this way, but I'd just rather not see it. Oh, well.
The waitress was very, very nice. I lied when she asked me how everything was, replying "great", because she reminded me of a few bright and cheery people I knew way back in the past. The food was not great. It was edible.
So in this battle of the Dutch Country Diners, I give the victory, by far, to the Kumm Esse Diner. Heisey's isn't the worst thing in the world. It sure is nice they are involved with the community.
Kumm Esse Diner
101 W Lincoln Ave Myerstown, PA 17067
Heisey's Diner
1740 Pennsylvania 72 Lebanon, PA 17046
Friday, November 1, 2013
The Lyric- Shenandoah, PA
"Stay out of Shendo"- my mother,when I told her I was taking a drive as a teenager.
"Nothing but trouble happens in that town" - countless other Frackville residents, while I was growing up.
Yeah, Shenandoah, known by many names other than its actual name (such as Shendo, Chendo, Shanadoor, and 462 Land), has quite a reputation around these parts. When I was a teenager, it was known as the place where teenagers engaged in "cruising"- driving one's car in a gigantic figure eight loop through town, yelling at people you knew as you passed by, and the frequent fights that occurred. Shenandoah has been home to quite a few interesting characters. I remember specifically seeing a crazed-looking gentleman in his 40's getting in quite the argument with a parking meter. By the way, there was no car parked in the parking meter's spot- he was pretty much just yelling at an inanimate object.
What a town. It also has its fair share of food establishments, but my two favorites growing up, Socca's Bakery and Armando's Pizza, are long gone. Still standing, and probably will be for years to come, is Kowalonek's Kielbasy shop, which will deserve its own entry in the future. In the meantine, just trust me: go get some Kilbo there. Lucky's Deli by the high school is also pretty good for Kielbasa.
Standing near the main intersection of Shenandoah is the old Lyric Theater. I cannot recall what this building was used for in my youth, though I think it was just a series of bars for awhile. At one point, many moons ago, it was indeed a movie theater, just like many towns in the area had small theaters during their boom period. The Lyric looks to be a nice size; I bet that it was a nice place to see a film in its day.
Now the Lyric is a restaurant that has retained the name of the old theater, and a fairly popular restaurant in the area to boot. I have eaten there a number of times with family and also with work colleagues, so I think I have a pretty good handle on what it has to offer. I wish I could say that it had something good to offer.
Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh with that last sentence, but I had a horrible experience there today, and I must admit that it has colored much of my memory about eating here. Before tonight, I would have told you that the Lyric was a place that served pretty standard food. If you asked for a bottle of hot sauce, you weren't getting anything special, just a bottle of Texas Pete's. Their pierogies were the same Mrs. T's you could buy in the grocery store (after all, the Mrs. T's Company is based right in this town). The Lyric is fine for what it is, but it's not anything special, nor does it really have to be in this area.
There are some different items on the menu. Sriracha Chicken Bites for one. I love sriracha, and the bites they serve are pretty tasty. They also happen to be available at Sam's Club, and I think it's the same ones that they serve here. The French Fries are pretty standard, as are most of the menu items. Tonight I had Coconut Shrimp, and I think these are the same frozen Coconut Shrimp they sell at Boyer's. My family likes it, and it's not anything offensive, so I eat here from time to time.
That might change, though. If you're going to serve such standard food, you need to stand out in other areas. I have had issues with service before, but tonight took the cake. We arrived at 5:30, and stood at the front of the restaurant waiting to be seated. Nobody on the staff came up to us to ask us if we needed a seat, or tell us to pick a table, or anything like that. We just stood there, looking confused, and to be honest, I didn't know the seating policy, as every other time I've eaten there I arrived after my party was already sitting somewhere. My wife and I just sat at a table, which must have been alright, since nobody asked us to leave. They didn't ask us anything. We just sat there for awhile until finally, maybe 10 minutes in, a waitress asked us if we were waited on. She gave us menus, dropped some off for the rest of the party which had yet to arrive, and went on her way.
Family arrived shortly thereafter. Someone came by and got our drink orders, promptly bringing by our drinks. We ordered, and we sat. And sat. And sat. I picked up my phone to play Tetris because I was bored. My wife told me that was rude. So we sat. And sat. And shared the news of the day with each other. And sat. And sat. And started to feel very hungry. And sat. And sat. And sat. And finished our drinks. And got no refill offers. And sat. And sat. And sat. And looked around as a big steak was dropped off at the table next to us, and as the waitress yukked it up with those people. And walked right by ignoring us. And sat. And sat. I was hungry. And since I had drank all of my water with no refill since the first glass, I was thirsty too. I was also pretty angry. Sorry for the short sentences. I type short sentences when I am frustrated. Like this. And this.
My family was getting peeved as well. My grandmother, completely out of character, took her spoon and hit her soda glass, making a loud "ding" that the waitresses ignored. My aunt, wanting to find some humor in the situation, took her fork in one hand and spoon in the other and feigned banging a beat out on the table. She does things like that when she's mad. It's passive-aggressive.
It was after 7:00 until we received our food. We got a brusque "sorry it took so long", but that was pretty much it. And then, when we finally received our food, I looked down and prepared to chomp down on those popcorn shrimp. They weren't anything special, but I had been waiting an hour and a half, so at the time they looked like the best thing I've ever eaten. I picked up one of my shrimp---
"HOLD ON!!! DON'T EAT THAT!" my waitress yelled as if eating it would end my life and possibly all of civilization. I dropped it as if it were a grenade and backed away from the plate. That was wierd.
She took my plate, said "I'll be right back," and soon dropped the plate back in front of me.
There were three shrimp missing.
Now, at eight shrimp, it looked like I got a good bang for my buck. But with the remaining five, plus the crumbs left behind from their three missing siblings, it was looking pretty scrawny.
I ate quickly and fumed. The waitiress ignored us much of the time while she laughed and joked with more than one other table that was around us. She took our orders and had us sit for over an hour. She tried to avoid making eye contact with any of us. I felt like a leper.
Then she gave me a generous helping of shrimp, and yelled so loud the whole restaurant could hear, and then took away much of that helping.
I wasn't impressed with this restaurant before. Now I'm REALLY not impressed.
I bet people who watched movies in the Lyric had a better time than I had tonight.
I'm sitting watching Pleasantville as I type this. It's a better movie than the Lyric is a restaurant. Reese Witherspoon is in it. I bet she could make me better food than what the Lyric served me tonight. Tobey Maquire also is in this movie. I bet he could make me a good meal, better than what I had tonight. I bet Tobey Maguire knows how to make a mean Coconut Shrimp. And I bet he wouldn't yell at me when I first started to chow down, too.
Stay away from this place.
Lyric, get your act together.
Lyric Restaurant
33 W Centre St Shenandoah, PA 17976
"Nothing but trouble happens in that town" - countless other Frackville residents, while I was growing up.
Yeah, Shenandoah, known by many names other than its actual name (such as Shendo, Chendo, Shanadoor, and 462 Land), has quite a reputation around these parts. When I was a teenager, it was known as the place where teenagers engaged in "cruising"- driving one's car in a gigantic figure eight loop through town, yelling at people you knew as you passed by, and the frequent fights that occurred. Shenandoah has been home to quite a few interesting characters. I remember specifically seeing a crazed-looking gentleman in his 40's getting in quite the argument with a parking meter. By the way, there was no car parked in the parking meter's spot- he was pretty much just yelling at an inanimate object.
What a town. It also has its fair share of food establishments, but my two favorites growing up, Socca's Bakery and Armando's Pizza, are long gone. Still standing, and probably will be for years to come, is Kowalonek's Kielbasy shop, which will deserve its own entry in the future. In the meantine, just trust me: go get some Kilbo there. Lucky's Deli by the high school is also pretty good for Kielbasa.
Standing near the main intersection of Shenandoah is the old Lyric Theater. I cannot recall what this building was used for in my youth, though I think it was just a series of bars for awhile. At one point, many moons ago, it was indeed a movie theater, just like many towns in the area had small theaters during their boom period. The Lyric looks to be a nice size; I bet that it was a nice place to see a film in its day.
Now the Lyric is a restaurant that has retained the name of the old theater, and a fairly popular restaurant in the area to boot. I have eaten there a number of times with family and also with work colleagues, so I think I have a pretty good handle on what it has to offer. I wish I could say that it had something good to offer.
Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh with that last sentence, but I had a horrible experience there today, and I must admit that it has colored much of my memory about eating here. Before tonight, I would have told you that the Lyric was a place that served pretty standard food. If you asked for a bottle of hot sauce, you weren't getting anything special, just a bottle of Texas Pete's. Their pierogies were the same Mrs. T's you could buy in the grocery store (after all, the Mrs. T's Company is based right in this town). The Lyric is fine for what it is, but it's not anything special, nor does it really have to be in this area.
There are some different items on the menu. Sriracha Chicken Bites for one. I love sriracha, and the bites they serve are pretty tasty. They also happen to be available at Sam's Club, and I think it's the same ones that they serve here. The French Fries are pretty standard, as are most of the menu items. Tonight I had Coconut Shrimp, and I think these are the same frozen Coconut Shrimp they sell at Boyer's. My family likes it, and it's not anything offensive, so I eat here from time to time.
That might change, though. If you're going to serve such standard food, you need to stand out in other areas. I have had issues with service before, but tonight took the cake. We arrived at 5:30, and stood at the front of the restaurant waiting to be seated. Nobody on the staff came up to us to ask us if we needed a seat, or tell us to pick a table, or anything like that. We just stood there, looking confused, and to be honest, I didn't know the seating policy, as every other time I've eaten there I arrived after my party was already sitting somewhere. My wife and I just sat at a table, which must have been alright, since nobody asked us to leave. They didn't ask us anything. We just sat there for awhile until finally, maybe 10 minutes in, a waitress asked us if we were waited on. She gave us menus, dropped some off for the rest of the party which had yet to arrive, and went on her way.
Family arrived shortly thereafter. Someone came by and got our drink orders, promptly bringing by our drinks. We ordered, and we sat. And sat. And sat. I picked up my phone to play Tetris because I was bored. My wife told me that was rude. So we sat. And sat. And shared the news of the day with each other. And sat. And sat. And started to feel very hungry. And sat. And sat. And sat. And finished our drinks. And got no refill offers. And sat. And sat. And sat. And looked around as a big steak was dropped off at the table next to us, and as the waitress yukked it up with those people. And walked right by ignoring us. And sat. And sat. I was hungry. And since I had drank all of my water with no refill since the first glass, I was thirsty too. I was also pretty angry. Sorry for the short sentences. I type short sentences when I am frustrated. Like this. And this.
My family was getting peeved as well. My grandmother, completely out of character, took her spoon and hit her soda glass, making a loud "ding" that the waitresses ignored. My aunt, wanting to find some humor in the situation, took her fork in one hand and spoon in the other and feigned banging a beat out on the table. She does things like that when she's mad. It's passive-aggressive.
It was after 7:00 until we received our food. We got a brusque "sorry it took so long", but that was pretty much it. And then, when we finally received our food, I looked down and prepared to chomp down on those popcorn shrimp. They weren't anything special, but I had been waiting an hour and a half, so at the time they looked like the best thing I've ever eaten. I picked up one of my shrimp---
"HOLD ON!!! DON'T EAT THAT!" my waitress yelled as if eating it would end my life and possibly all of civilization. I dropped it as if it were a grenade and backed away from the plate. That was wierd.
She took my plate, said "I'll be right back," and soon dropped the plate back in front of me.
There were three shrimp missing.
Now, at eight shrimp, it looked like I got a good bang for my buck. But with the remaining five, plus the crumbs left behind from their three missing siblings, it was looking pretty scrawny.
I ate quickly and fumed. The waitiress ignored us much of the time while she laughed and joked with more than one other table that was around us. She took our orders and had us sit for over an hour. She tried to avoid making eye contact with any of us. I felt like a leper.
Then she gave me a generous helping of shrimp, and yelled so loud the whole restaurant could hear, and then took away much of that helping.
I wasn't impressed with this restaurant before. Now I'm REALLY not impressed.
I bet people who watched movies in the Lyric had a better time than I had tonight.
I'm sitting watching Pleasantville as I type this. It's a better movie than the Lyric is a restaurant. Reese Witherspoon is in it. I bet she could make me better food than what the Lyric served me tonight. Tobey Maquire also is in this movie. I bet he could make me a good meal, better than what I had tonight. I bet Tobey Maguire knows how to make a mean Coconut Shrimp. And I bet he wouldn't yell at me when I first started to chow down, too.
Stay away from this place.
Lyric, get your act together.
Lyric Restaurant
33 W Centre St Shenandoah, PA 17976
Friday, October 25, 2013
It's been awhile....
Haven't posted anything in awhile.
I have some posts to compose, and some places to eat so I can have some more entries. Just wanted you to know that The Coal Region Food Guy is alive.
I had some comments made yesterday on one of my reviews that I deleted. The reasons were as follows:
1.) The commenter made three posts that essentially said the same thing. If it was just one comment, I probably would have left it up, but the writer not only replied to my blog post, but also to the owner of the restaurant, who also commented (and Pam, I'll be doing another review, I just haven't gotten around to it because real life and all of that).
2.) At least one of the comments used profanity, which I don't care for on my blog.
3.) The commenter referred to one of the employees in a fashion that sounded like she knew her personally, which made it seem like this was a personal issue that didn't need to be aired on a public blog.
Keep eating, everyone.
-Brian
I have some posts to compose, and some places to eat so I can have some more entries. Just wanted you to know that The Coal Region Food Guy is alive.
I had some comments made yesterday on one of my reviews that I deleted. The reasons were as follows:
1.) The commenter made three posts that essentially said the same thing. If it was just one comment, I probably would have left it up, but the writer not only replied to my blog post, but also to the owner of the restaurant, who also commented (and Pam, I'll be doing another review, I just haven't gotten around to it because real life and all of that).
2.) At least one of the comments used profanity, which I don't care for on my blog.
3.) The commenter referred to one of the employees in a fashion that sounded like she knew her personally, which made it seem like this was a personal issue that didn't need to be aired on a public blog.
Keep eating, everyone.
-Brian
Monday, August 20, 2012
I ate a veggie burger last night..
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.
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.
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)