As I’m sure what will be the only review of this restaurant all I can say is I stepped up and took one for the team! I’ve said frequently in other threads in my 25 years living in the area I have met -0- people who have ever dined here, thanks to HO I’ve “met” two, but neither have been in the last 30+ years.
The place has been an enigma, there never seems to be anyone there, yet they have been in business 65 years! I checked out their website and Friday’s are 50% off food only, some nights they have 25% off food AND booze. The 50% off made it hard for me to not give it a try, so with some good salesmanship on my behalf I got a buddy and his wife to join us.
We called for reservations which they do not take, they told us to get there before 7 and they will fit us in. We arrived 8pm and although the parking lot was surprisingly full, there were 5 (out of 20?) tables occupied. Needless to say we were immediately seated at a nice table in the back of the dining room.
This will bring me to my harshest criticisms, which is the place itself. It’s very hard to describe but this is a place that time has left behind, its old and outdated. More than half of the indirect lighting is burned out everything is painted a dark gloomy green and it smells like a funeral parlor. Don’t ask me to describe that smell because I can’t, but after sitting there for 5 mins trying to soak it all in I just muttered, this is like a funeral parlor and everyone at the table agreed.
The waitresses were all of 65 years old +, but very pleasant, very experienced and provided excellent team service. Every employee knew every other customer there, we stuck out like sore thumbs and we were asked by everyone “you from around here” to which I imagine they follow up saying internally; “because we don’t get many visitors here”.
Apps: zuppa’ de clams - escargot (special) both were good, only thing was the escargot had walnuts in the garlic sauce. Never seen escargot served with walnuts before but it wasn’t offensive or bad just odd.
Entrees: Two broiled platters, one pasta with shrimp and scallops and a skirt steak with peppers and onions (mine and a special)
The entrees were good! The pasta received high accolades from my buddy who is a PIA, the woman enjoyed their seafood platters (seemed all fresh) and my steak was smothered in a tasty peppers and onions sauce. All in all no complaints.
All entrees came with a house salad with all dressings served on the side. I don’t know if the dressings were homemade but they were not the typical “Ken’s” varieties 75% of restaurants use.
My baked potato was not fresh, it was cooked a day or two ago and reheated to serve. Also the bread we were served, individual rolls, were not fresh but obviously microwaved hot.
Desert was what was billed by the waitress as “the best carrot cake” in the world. It was obviously store bought/baked, friends wife said it’s from Costco. It was good, worlds best? No but still good.
It’s hard to find anything “wrong” with the food, just some obvious short cuts any restaurant that’s “struggling” might take. On the way out we were greeted by what I assume was the owner, his first question; “you guys from around here”…lol
I couldn’t help but notice the built into the wall cigarette machine circa 1950, we chatted a bit about the place, he gave us a flier of specials (same as website) and was a very congenial guy.
The place screams Gordon Ramsey kitchen nightmares, pre-Ramsey arrival. It needs a fresh interior and an owner/chef to re-find their motivation. Until then this will remain a forgotten little eatery where the clocks stopped ticking in 1978.
I would go back.
