WEEKLY MENU 11.12.23
We’re heading back to the Diner to inspire our Weekly Menu 11.12.23~
Finding good diners is getting harder and harder, so we’re planning the Weekly Menu 11.12.23 around our favorite offerings from local hotspots!
Interestingly, here in Erieland, according to TripAdvisor, the number one restaurant is the Lawrence Park Dinor. It’s a classic diner that looks like a train car. They’re open from 8 am until 2 pm, and the breakfast is purported to be the best in Erie. My interests lie more in the savory lunchtime offerings, at least for its impact on the Weekly Menu 11.12.23.
The boysies have always been “diner-boys”. The now-defunct Taki’s was a Greek diner mainstay in Erieland for years, and was the go-to for breakfast after church or on a day off from school. Only place I’ve ever been to (so far) that deep fried their sausage links. Genius.
The Oakwood Cafe is another favorite with a classy name and upscale decor. At it’s core, though, it’s a diner with seriously delicious meatloaf. (Honestly, I’ve never had anything that wasn’t delicious.) The children’s menu had chicken strips, of course, but we always got the kid’s meatloaf platters that came with fabulous brown gravy smothered mashed spuds. There was never a lick left on those plates because the boysies used the white-bread rolls to sop any leftover gravy.
Panos Restaurant has recently returned to our out-to-eat lunch lineup, mostly because Baby Boy works close enough to walk across the street for a bite. I’ve tried breakfast and lunch, and I can confirm this Greek diner has mastered both. The Greek sauce is chef’s kiss.
One of the most iconic diners for those of us of a particular age is the one the the entire gang frequented on Seinfeld. The diner is actually real, although the scenes filmed inside were set at a sound stage made to look like the inside of a typical diner.
SEINFELD FANS WHO WANT TO re-create their favorite scenes in Monk’s coffee shop need only travel to Manhattan’s Upper West Side. It won’t look familiar on the inside, but the blue and red neon wrapping the corner will let them know they’re in the right place.
Tom’s Restaurant, or the façade anyway, located on Broadway at 112th Street near Columbia University, stood in for the fictional “Monk’s” on the show. Although the walls are now covered with Seinfeld memorabilia, when the images of the exterior were first taken for the show (including the “Tom’s” part of the name, which was later cropped out), the owner’s sons asked what they were for. The response: “It’s just for some pilot.”
Atlasobscura
Like many diners, Tom’s has been run by the same Greek-American family since the 1940’s. The food runs the normal gamut from meatloaf to burgers. Doesn’t it sound perfect?
Weekly Menu 11.12.23
How are we going to celebrate the diner at home? Well, we’re starting with MEATLOAF! Cracked Pepper Meatloaf, to be exact. After we have some deep fried mozzarella sticks dipped in jarred marinara sauce. Green beans, of course. And a perpetual diner (and hubby) favorite: Coconut Cream Pie. We debated about including Banana Cream Pie instead, but if I put too may ‘nanas in there no one will touch it.
We’re continuing our theme with Crispy Chicken Club Sandwiches on Monday. With oven fried tater tots, which is a little switch from the deep fried diner French fries that we’d probably all prefer. Needs must though, and I’m not deep frying on a Monday.
Soup Friday is a little spin on plain bean soup this week – we’ll add some Italian Sausage to spice things up a bit. And Saturday, we’re using some planned leftovers. We’ll roast extra chicken on Thursday so we can make our shortcut Chicken Pot Pie. We’ll add our chicken, a can of sliced potatoes and one of peas and carrots to a creamy cheesy sauce and top with biscuits from the dairy aisle. Fast, easy, and totally diner based.
WEEKLY MENU 11.12.23
We found Avanti’s to be a wonderful place for breakfast. Food was served hot,fast,and with a smile. A delightful time I must say.
I’m sorry but meatloaf is a bad waste of hamburger in any shape or form in my opinion.
Ha! We’ll only fry up half then.