The Pancake House with Maggie

Tuesday was a big day because Maggie and I were going to spend the day together.  She spent the night on Monday and we went to her favorite restaurant "The Pancake House" in Westerville.  I had never been there before but Maggie wanted to have the "Minnie Mouse" pancakes and so that is where we went.

We got there at 9:30 and it was pretty busy and we were shown to a table for two.  The restaurant is not large and has black vinyl booths, wood floor and red curtains with buckeyes on it.  I ordered the coffee and Maggie got chocolate milk which was a hit with her.  I did not get a pancake but a cheese and bacon omelet and hash browns.  Maggie did get her minnie mouse pancakes which included three pancakes, chocolate chip eyes, a strawberry nose and the sausage as a mouse.   As we waited for our meal to come, Maggie entertained herself playing with the jellies - putting them in and out of the holder.and arranging the grape, apple, strawberry samples.  It was very cute.

My omelet was what I would call "good enough" and the hash browns were okay.  Two men sat beside us and I heard one order "crispy" hash browns and I thought - that is what I am going to do from now on.  I do not like hash browns that are not quite cooked. Maggie ate her pancake without syrup and used a combination of eating with her hands and with her fork.  She sort of dipped the pancake in butter.  She ended up eating about half of it.

As we were leaving, I asked her if she thought the restaurant was good, great or just OKAY.  And she said it was "The Best."  My rating would be that it was just OKAY with me except being in the  company of this little girl the breakfast experience was really "The Best."

Afterward we went to the park on Main Street in Westerville and I got to sit and watch her play and make friends with other kids.  It was a beautiful morning for Ogram.

Waffle House with Audrey

As per our practice, Audrey and I had breakfast on Friday morning which is the end of her work week.  We decided to try the Waffle House near her new home on Dublin Granville Road by 71.  I may have been there once before.

We arrived around 9 am and it wa not busy and we were able to find a booth immediately. The waffle house has tile floors, comfortable booths and laminated menus that serve as placemats.  I ordered the pecan waffle and Audrey got eggs, bacon and hash browns.






















As we looked over the restaurant Audrey noted that there were three cameras which probably reflected the possibility of crime in the neighborhood - we don't know whether that is standard for every waffle house. And we also noticed it was kind of dirty - again - not knowing whether that was only true for this particular restaurant.

























The music would come and go.  At first it was silent and then a solo voice started singing and it startled me so much that I thought it was someone sitting behind me.  I like the music and then it stopped again and there was silence.  Kind of different.

The food was good!  I liked the pecan waffle alot (it was crunchy)  and tried Audrey's hash browns and liked them as well.  Audrey dropped bacon on her shirt and had an immediate grease stain - so that will tell you something about the bacon.

We probably will not go back for a while and maybe I will try out a different waffle house.  The food was good and the price was right!  My meal was $6.50 and Audrey's was $9.99.

Delaney's Diner with Addie

It was Marnie that suggested that we go to Delaney's Diner when I realized Addie was free for breakfast this morning.  I readily concurred because I LOVE it and have been there several times - usually with Chuck.  When Delaney's first opened Chuck went to it many, many times and brought lots of people to try it. So I was happy to go.

Addie is home alone all day today.  Reagan is at camp and Maggie at daycare and of course, Marnie and Erik are working, so she was a very willing companion to go with me.  She had never been and tried in the past but it was too crowded - but today - at 9:30 on a Wednesday there was plenty of space.

As we sat down and were greeted by the very welcoming waitress, I asked Addie how she would describe it>  She said:"It's an old fashioned diner but modern."  And that is exactly right.  There is a wood floor, formica tables, red chairs, and graphic art on the walls.  It has a very new and clean vibe to it and I appreciate that there was adequate space between the tables so that you didn't feel like your neighbors could overhear your conversation.




She ordered French toast with Challah bread and I ordered Roy Lees breakfast casserole. I had it before and loved it - it is a casserole with eggs, sausage, mushrooms, cheddar cheese and croutons. The waitress said she thought they had one more left - so there was some suspense waiting to find out but the news was good and the food was delicious.

I also got coffee which was good and they kept filling my cup and even offered a cup to go.  I love hash browns and these were good but not great - there was a funny aftertaste to them.  Addie said that her breakfast had her favorite butter and her favorite fluffy French toast.

It is a real gift for me to get to eat out with Addie and learn a little bit about her life.  She is fourteen and going into 10th grade this fall.  Right now, she is focussed on getting a tan this summer and we talked a lot about our family.  She is a wonderful companion.

Afterwards I was pleased that they had - not mints - but cinnamon candy to cleanse the palate.  We left and stopped at Audrey's so that Addie could see the new kittens.  And then she went home to sit by the pool and work on that tan.

In conclusion - this is a restaurant I would really recommend for breakfast - it is exactly what Addie said - old fashioned good food served by a very friendly and warm staff. 

Gena's Resturant with Trixie

Trixie and I normally go out for lunch but we decided to do breakfast for this blog.  She suggested Gena's in Westerville and it turns out that I had already been here.  I went one time with Marnie and Maggie on a Sunday following church.  It was very busy that day.  And true to my senior memory, I could not remember much about the meal at that time.

On this morning it was not busy at all.  We had a very nice table and a friendly waitress.  Gena's ambiance is not particularly interesting - wooden tables and a few pictures on the wall.  They advertise themselves - highlighting it on the menu - as the "Home of the Greatest American Pecan Roll."











Not surprisingly, we ordered one to share.  Trixie ordered an "Egglette" Sandwich which is a mini omelet served on an English Muffin.  She said it was like a breakfast burrito and called it "adequate."

















She did not have the English muffin.I ordered a cheese and mushroom omelet - which was three eggs and included home fries.  I would describe my omelet as "thin" - like a crepe - with flat sliced potatoes.  I do like hashbrowns as my guilty pleasure - which is to say fried and greasy.  These were not that.

The pecan roll was for sure the best part.  It was moist, gooey and with plenty of pecans.  I liked it but I would not say it was the best in America.  The advertising was pretty over the top.

So, Gena's restaurant was convenient in a shopping mall with good parking and a good pecan roll.  And very good service. Unfortunately, For the rest of it - pretty mediocre.

The best part was the conversation with Trixie - we never run out of things to talk about. That's why I am doing this blog - even a mediocre meal can be a good time.


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Galena Diner with Pat

Pat Hibbard recommended the Galena Diner to me and we went there on a beautiful Friday morning.
I had never been there before, although Chuck and I used to sometimes go to Galena to check out the fishing - but more about that later.

When we got to the restaurant we found a nice table by the window.  The restaurant has wood floors, formica tables and chairs.  It is clearly popular with the men in the area as most of the tables were occupied by groups of ( old?) men.  There was a room sort of below us with a table full of very noisy men and we were glad to be seated where we were.

The menu had a lot of different selections including:   lemon ricotta pancakes, chicken and waffles and corned beef hash.

  I ordered a bacon spinach scramble with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, spinach, tomatoes, shredded cheese and home fries.  The homefries were more like chopped potatoes but I really loved the egg dish. 

Pat got a veggie omelet with onions, mushrooms, tomatoe, spinach, green peppers, banana peppers.  She thought it was delicious too.

I also got coffee and it was very good.  And I liked the cute mug!

We had a very engaging waitress and enjoyed the warmth and friendliness of the diner - especially after the large group of talkative men left.

Afterwards we went and walked on the Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk behind the restaurant.  That is where I had been several times with Chuck.  He had tried fishing there once, but had more fun doing what Pat and I did after breakfast - walking and just l taking it all in -

the fishermen, the water, the wildlife.  I looked it up and found out that it is .38 miles so it is just a nice morning stroll in a  peaceful and serene place.

So the Breakfast included not only delicious food, but a wonderful walk with a dear friend.  A perfect way to start the day.  I recommend Both - the Galena Diner and a walk on the boardwalk.

Tommy's Diner with Kim

Kim Veatch invited me to come with her to Tommy's Diner which is a favorite for her especially when she is working at the furniture bank.  So, we made our way down there and found it was an old fashioned family owned diner.  It has a classic look with black and white tile floors, red booths and lots of pictures on the wall. 

These are Columbus people and you can tell by the pictures of the Buckeyes and other celebrities.

We both ordered the special which was French toast stuffed with cream cheese and strawberries. It was truly decadent, delicious, over the top and well worth the money.  We both loved it.  We also had coffee which was good but not great.

Tommy's is an established restaurant started in 1989 by Tom Pappas and his wife Kathy.  It has a warm and friendly atmosphere and we believe we saw both Tom and his wife working.  I would absolutely recommend this for a good breakfast.

Afterwards Kim and I drove downtown and walked along the river.  It was a beautiful day to not only get exercise but explore the beauty of Columbus.

After having returned recently from both New York City and Washington I have a new appreciation for the art and history that is present in a city if only we take the time to see it.  Here isa sculture called "Celebration of Life"  depicting the baby Arthur Boke Junior who was found on a doorstep by Sarah Sullivant.  She raised him and he was the first African American resident of Franklinton.  It is in front of the new Veteran's Building.





So, it was a beautiful breakfast and a wonderful way to start eh morning with Kim.

Jimmy V's with Audrey and Melanie

This was out after church brunch that the three of us engage in regularly.  Sunday we went to the 10 AM service at First Community Church in Grandview and decided to drive up 5th Ave in search of a restaurant.  We came to Jimmy V's and were delighted to find it was open at 11 AM.

We have eaten here several times and often outside, but this Sunday we opted for dining in the restaurant and were delighted to find ourselves the only diners.  Audrey ordered Orange Juice which came in a generous glass but it was frothy and a weird color.  However, she thought it tasted fine.

  The breakfast menu had some very different offerings and we three each had a different meal:  I had Jimmy V's omelet which included gyro meat, feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, olives and a side of taziki sauce.

 Melanie had Jimmy's traditional breakfast : 3 scrambled eggs blended with ajvar (delicious red pepper relish)

 Audrey had the San Antonio Skillet with house  made sausage over hash browns with scrambled eggs on top.
Audrey could not finish - loved the sauce and said there was "way more chicken" than she needed.

The waitress was outstanding.  I complimented the coffee and she shared that she makes it extra strong which is why I like it.  Both Audrey and Melanie are gluten free and they received gluten free buns and Melanie's sausage was cooked to match the bun size.  The meals were all very good and definitely out of the norm.  Melanie was pleased that her eggs were not too spicy but very tasty.  My Greek eggs were delicious and I loved the taziki sauce on the side.

Our conversation was - not surprisingly - about church.  We go to that service to receive communion and that was a highlight for me.  There was a wonderful reading by Thomas Merton in the bulletin that I really appreciated.  We sang "Lord of the Dance" with an organ accompaniment and I would have preferred a piano.  I know that is nit picky - but it matters to me.  The sermon disappointed me a little because it did not seem to match the overall theme of the service.  However, Audrey keeps telling me to lower my expectations.

We really like this restaurant.  It has terrazo tile floors, borwn booths, a wooden table and it was very comfortable for three.  It had a pokemon stop for Audrey.  We agreed there was a nostalgic feel to the decor and pictures and I especially appreciated eating beneath this picture of Marlon Brando.

As we left there were people eating outside but we were very happy with our choice of inside eating since it was getting pretty warm out.  Overall, I would absolutely recommend Jimmy V's for a different and very delicious breakfast.