Great Food Where You Least Expect It.

[JonDouglas]

I've been fortunate to have eaten in some of the better restaurants around; however, some of the most memorable meals have been in out-of-the-way places you'd never find or go into if you didn't know. Of late, there have been several, one of which was today. Today, we stopped in this tiny, hole-in-the-wall place, hours from the ocean that specializes in seafood. I had baked a haddock and scallops dish that was fresh, tasty and baked to perfection. The fries/chips were done well and the slaw was very good. Totally unexpected.

Some weeks back we had a dinner at a BB out in the middle of nowhere that was just about as good as a dinner can get. Blew me away.

To end this post on a low high note, one of the best breakfasts ever was in a tiny, greasy spoon joint in PA. It was raining, we'd been up driving for hours and were so hungry that we pulled into this place. It was the first eatery we saw open, which looked about as low-brow as they come.

Aside from the meal (i.e. 2 OE with toast, hash browns, sausage and bacon), which was grilled to perfection, the place reminded me of the one-arm hash houses that prevailed into the 1950s. The term "one-arm" originated with the type of chars such places used that were not meant to be comfortable.

If you've any similar stories, I am sure some of us (i.e., at least one) would love to hear it.

 

[CinnamonSugar]

When I was working in Lexington KY, I took a day trip to Versailles (pronounced VerSALES by the locals) and had *the* best barbecue at a little mom-and-pop place.


You add your own BBQ sauce to the smoked meat. YUMMY

 

[Don M.]

We've also had some of our best meals at small "mom and pop" restaurants.

 

[Llynn]

The two broken neon open signs are the capper. I would absolutely have to go into a dive like that

 

[Murrmurr]

I've been fortunate to have eaten in some of the better restaurants around; however, some of the most memorable meals have been in out-of-the-way places you'd never find or go into if you didn't know. Of late, there have been several, one of which was today. Today, we stopped in this tiny, hole-in-the-wall place, hours from the ocean that specializes in seafood. I had baked a haddock and scallops dish that was fresh, tasty and baked to perfection. The fries/chips were done well and the slaw was very good. Totally unexpected.

Some weeks back we had a dinner at a BB out in the middle of nowhere that was just about as good as a dinner can get. Blew me away.

To end this post on a low high note, one of the best breakfasts ever was in a tiny, greasy spoon joint in PA. It was raining, we'd been up driving for hours and were so hungry that we pulled into this place. It was the first eatery we saw open, which looked about as low-brow as they come.

Aside from the meal (i.e. 2 OE with toast, hash browns, sausage and bacon), which was grilled to perfection, the place reminded me of the one-arm hash houses that prevailed into the 1950s. The term "one-arm" originated with the type of chars such places used that were not meant to be comfortable.

If you've any similar stores, I am sure some of us (i.e., at least one) would love to hear it.

Love how they've augmented the neon OP and OPE signs with the ol' stiff-board "Yes, We're open" ones. = Honest, we are open. hahaha!

 

[Tommy]

Do you wonder about sanitation? Prior to my retirement I had occasion to be in the kitchens of quite a few restaurants and I can say from first hand experience that it's unpredictable. Often the appearance of what the customer sees is reflected in the kitchen, but surprisingly often I saw run down mom & pop places that were immaculate in the food prep area and, conversely, bright, attractive restaurants (including big chains) where the cleanliness of, and practices in the kitchen would make my skin crawl. Eating out is always a crap shoot.

 

[JonDouglas]

Do you wonder about sanitation? Prior to my retirement I had occasion to be in the kitchens of quite a few restaurants and I can say from first hand experience that it's unpredictable. Often the appearance of what the customer sees is reflected in the kitchen, but surprisingly often I saw run down mom & pop places that were immaculate in the food prep area and, conversely, bright, attractive restaurants (including big chains) where the cleanliness of, and practices in the kitchen would make my skin crawl. Eating out is always a crap shoot.

Having grown up around greasy spoon places, diners and one-arm hash houses, I don't give it a lot of thought (and fortunately have never gotten ill from eating at such places).

 

[hollydolly]

Do you wonder about sanitation? Prior to my retirement I had occasion to be in the kitchens of quite a few restaurants and I can say from first hand experience that it's unpredictable. Often the appearance of what the customer sees is reflected in the kitchen, but surprisingly often I saw run down mom & pop places that were immaculate in the food prep area and, conversely, bright, attractive restaurants (including big chains) where the cleanliness of, and practices in the kitchen would make my skin crawl. Eating out is always a crap shoot.

Personally if I go to any restaurants or cafe's where I've never been before, the first thing I do is go to the toilet.. if it's dirty where you can see, then it's going to be much worse where you can't...

Another one is to feel under the table..if it's sticky and gunky... especially tables covered with tablecloths.. don't eat there...

 

[JonDouglas]

Personally if I go to any restaurants or cafe's where I've never been before, the first thing I do is go to the toilet.. if it's dirty where you can see, then it's going to be much worse where you can't...

Another one is to feel under the table..if it's sticky and gunky... especially tables covered with tablecloths.. don't eat there...

I am guessing you that you'd pass on this place, which isn't that far from where we live.

What's funny is that when the city tried to shut the place down, the populace thought so much of this old dog and burger stand as a historical and important fixture that they nearly ran town officials out on a rail. The place persists and on most days, there's no space to park. In addition, it is anything but, fast food. Their onion strings with a foot-long are delicious.
.

 

[officerripley]

Too many of our restaurants around here closed permanently due to Covid.

 

[fmdog44]

Do you wonder about sanitation? Prior to my retirement I had occasion to be in the kitchens of quite a few restaurants and I can say from first hand experience that it's unpredictable. Often the appearance of what the customer sees is reflected in the kitchen, but surprisingly often I saw run down mom & pop places that were immaculate in the food prep area and, conversely, bright, attractive restaurants (including big chains) where the cleanliness of, and practices in the kitchen would make my skin crawl. Eating out is always a crap shoot.

Having watched those Chef Ramsey restaurant makeover shows I don't care how clean it appears on the dining areas because those shows reveal horrible lack of sanitation in the kitchen areas. It is sickening to learn some family owned businesses are so poorly run by adults that are either stupid beyond definition or just don't give a damn what type of garbage they serve loyal customers.