Beyond Breakfast: Penn State Berkey Creamery

What goes best with a little BBQ while you’re on the road in spring break? Ice cream! And if you happen to be on the road anywhere near central Pennsylvania, your best bet for ice cream has to be Penn State University’s Berkey Creamery.

I know I know I know… I’m a blogger from Ohio, I teach at THE Ohio State University, Penn State is supposed to be a sworn enemy, blah blah blah. Columbus does ice cream well – we do it very well – but ice cream has been proven to transcend cultural, geographic, national, and yes, sometimes religious boundaries. So while we have lots of ice cream to be proud of in central Ohio, we’ve got to acknowledge the excellence of Penn State’s ice cream program. After all, our very own Jeni of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams attended Berkey Creamery.

At the Berkey Creamery, it’s not just all ice cream. There’s sherbet, there’s cheese, and there are sticky buns from the local diner.

In recent years the Creamery moved to a new space in the new Food Science Building. From what I barely remember of the old space (I only peaked in once), this is spot is bigger and more open. One corner of it is run like a good old fashioned convenience store, but a majority of the space is dedicated to the ice cream.

Like any established ice cream shop, the Berkey Creamery has its share of famous flavors, like Peachy Paterno, Coconut Chip, and Mint Nittany. One of the more well known – and my personal favorite – is the Death By Chocolate.

Death By Chocolate isn’t a really complex flavor, it’s just really, really great chocolate ice cream. It’s rich, it’s not over-the-top sweet, and it’s served in a generous heaping cup.

We also “sampled” the cookies & cream and the peanut butter swirl.

I’ve always had a soft spot for cookies and cream. It’s one of my go-tos at any ice cream parlor. The chunkier, the better.

This would be a great way to go.

Aside from eating ice cream on premises, we also visited with the purpose of loading up a cooler with half gallons. The creamery features an entire wall of freezers loaded top to bottom with ice cream, and they’ll pack it on dry ice for you.

For ice cream lovers or for casual travelers, the Berkery Creamery is a must-stop in central Pennsylvania. And don’t be intimidated by the campus location: it’s easy to access and a nearby parking garage has half hour spots dedicated to Creamery visitors.

If you want to visit:
Berkey Creamery
119 Food Science Building (map it!)
University Park, PA 16802
creamery.psu.edu
See also on Facebook and @PSUCreamery

Boston Stoker Coffee | Columbus, OH

Boston Stoker (Facebook / @BostonStokerOSU)
1660 Neil Ave. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43210
(937) 890-6401
Open Mon-Fri, 6:30a-7p; Sat & Sun, 8a-2p
Accepts cash & credit/debit

Date of Visit: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 12:30pm

Coffee on Ohio State’s campus – or any college campus, for that matter – can be a dubious affair. Students in need of caffeination are surrounded by shops hawking extra large lattes and towering cappuccinos. And let’s face it, as a student you’re usually focused more bang-for-your-buck caffeine stimulation rather than the true coffee experience. And that demand is met by places like Brenen’s Cafe, Starbucks, Panera, or any of the OSU food service run coffee shops.

So if you’re someone like me, and you want coffee, but something beyond a sugary iced chai or a grande cup of acidic dark roast, you’re usually out of luck. Until about a year ago, when a Dayton-based chain called Boston Stoker opened a store on Neil Avenue near the center of campus. Like the Brenen’s Cafe that previously occupied the space, Boston Stoker fills the front half of the building, while the back half is dedicated to a bank branch. So in some ways the coffee shop feels like a glorified bank lobby, but it’s got enough personality to be a real coffee shop: couches for chatting, outlets for laptops, plenty of tables for studiers.

The Boston Stoker company roasts their beans in Dayton, where they have nine other stores. In Columbus, menus are printed daily with the coffees available for espresso, French press, or pour overs.

They also serve tea, plus munchables like bagels and muffins.

The real feature of their coffee service is the brew bar, where cups of coffee are prepared individually using the pour over method.

Pour overs provide a little song-and-dance routine for the customer, as it’s slightly more involved than just shooting coffee out of a press pot. This process includes pouring hot water over the coffee grounds in a funneled filter.

This maximizes the appropriate contact time between water and grounds, and it allows you to do it one cup at a time.

The result allows you to best feature the roast’s flavor profile. Seriously, you don’t need cream or sugar with it.

I tried a cup of the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe on the recommendation of the barista, and I loved it. Clean, rich, a little fruity.

This is why I’m so happy to have Boston Stoker on campus: no one else nearby is making coffee like this! Sure, maybe not all college students are looking for the ideal coffee experience, but there’s got to be a crowd for this. Especially given that the closest places preparing coffee well are further south in Short North or up in Clintonville. I know I’m going to create some slight detours to Boston Stoker on the walk between my office and my classrooms.

Photos: a Jack & Benny’s revisit

One of the challenges of food blogging, especially when talking about restaurants, is to keep discovering and writing about something new, while simultaneously wanting to revisit old favorites. I know, I know… poor me. But the real joy of a good breakfast place is becoming a regular there, getting to know the owners and even some returning customers.

Case in point: Jack & Benny’s. I reviewed J&B’s way back in 2007, when the blog was just starting. So the description is inexperienced and the photos are less-than-great. I still stand by my assessment, but I think I could represent the restaurant better. So, of course, when my boys and I had a free Saturday morning on a OSU football gameday, we swung by for some grub and to snap a couple more photos.

Two important things to know about Jack & Benny’s. 1.) They’re a classic diner. Big wooden floor. Old counter and stools (you can tell they’re old because they’re a little smaller – my legs are crammed when I sit there). The owner Geno works the grill. Cheap coffee and generous breakfasts. 2.) J&B’s is an Ohio State institution. Even if they’re not technically on campus, they’re close enough that the decor is like a museum of OSU football history. The main wall is lined with photos of past coaches and players, famous diners, and the owners posed with other notables. Then there’s the case of bobblehead dolls: everyone’s represented, from Woody Hayes to Archie Griffin to Jim Tressel to the brand new Urban Meyer.

Jack & Benny’s is also home of the busters. I will admit, without shame, that I rarely order anything other than the Gutbuster. It’s everything I love about breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage, cheese, ham, gravy, and toast. All in one indistinguishable pile.

Look at that: layers of breakfast goodness. And while the portions are big, I’ve never experienced the actual gut-busting that the name promises. (But does that say something about the dish or about me? Hmmm…) Nevertheless, Jack & Benny’s is one of my neighborhood diners, and it’s worth a visit or two or three. Goodness knows I’m always looking for the excuse to go back.

Sloopy’s Diner | Columbus, OH

Sloopy’s Diner

1739 N. High St., in the Ohio Union (map it!)

Columbus, OH 43210

(614) 292-7000

Accepts cash, credit/debit, and BuckID

Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N

Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Friday, August 5, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Anyone who attends or works at Ohio State is familiar with construction on campus. We live with road closures and new buildings, but we also enjoy the fruits of all that labor. Cases in point: our beautiful renovated library, and our massive new Ohio Union. And a bonus that came with the Union: the designers wisely placed a diner in it.

ATMOSPHERE: Because Sloopy’s is, after all, situated on the campus of THE Ohio State University, you can expect very heavy Buckeye themes. Tile floors, plates, lighting fixtures, booths, signs, countertops, everything is decorated in scarlet and gray. It’s very fitting for a diner, actually.

If you go at mealtimes, especially during the school year, you’re bound to find crowds of students. However, the diner provides a wealth of seating, with two levels of booths, tables, and a looooong row of counter seats. For a diner, it’s pretty spacious.

You also get a big view of the kitchen, so Sloopy’s may not have that crammed-next-to-your-neighbor charm that smaller places like Nancy’s or Jack & Benny’s boast, but it still gives you enough of the diner flare.

FOOD: We started off with some coffee. Notice the checkered scarlet and gray around the cups and plates. Coffee was good diner coffee; bonus points for bringing out a mug of cream automatically.

We had heard tell of their popular cinnamon rolls, too, so we sampled one. It was pretty warm and soft. Definite cream cheese taste in the frosting. Not the best cinnamon roll ever, but I can see why people go for them. It works well as an appetizer for a group.

I haven’t seen too many breakfast sliders on menus, so we had to try one of these, too. It’s essentially a small breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs and a sausage patty, but then it’s topped with crispy onions and a dash of barbeque sauce. This could make an easy light breakfast (or another appetizer). The ingredients came together well: the onions and a little bit of zest from the sauce sold it.

I ordered the smothered breakfast burrito: a flour tortilla packed with eggs, cheddar, chorizo, black beans, and salsa. I’m a sucker for a good burrito. This wasn’t the most dynamic, but it certainly tasted good and was filling. The chorizo and salsa were pretty flavorful, and you can’t argue with eggs and cheese. Came with a side of nice crispy hash browns.

Here’s the overhead artsy shot of my burrito.

And here’s the No Veggies Here omelet, loaded with bacon, sausage, ham, turkey, and cheese, then covered with black beans, avocado, and more cheese. We chose the side of hash browns. Like the burrito, the dish was delicious and portions were student-sized. You’ll certainly get your fill at Sloopy’s. It’s a wonderful combination of diner + student cafeteria, which means you’ll get a lot of comfort food.

SERVICE: Sloopy’s fully embraces the 1950′s diner theme. The menu is shaped like a record, and you’re of course treated to lots of 50′s rock music while you eat. Although the servers don’t come to your table on roller skates, you’re still treated well. Our service was great: very friendly and welcoming, able to suggest menu items and tell us about the restaurant.

OVERALL: Sloopy‘s has the feel of a deliberately retro-looking diner, so if you’re searching out one of Columbus’ true old-school eateries, this isn’t your place. But as a welcoming and filling breakfast experience, Sloopy’s won’t let you down. I love that the Union designers actually made something of the restaurant, rather than just building another student cafeteria. I recommend trying Sloopy’s, and then taking time to wander the rest of the Ohio Union (plus the newly renovated Thompson Library). It would serve as a great start to a morning of touring campus. (Bonus side note: they serve a breakfast buffet on football game days!)

OTHER LINKS:

-> my (614) Magazine write-up about campus-area breakfasts, including Sloopy’s Diner

Taste of Belgium (Wexner Center) | Columbus, OH

UPDATE: The Taste of Belgium location in the Wexner Center has CLOSED.

 

Taste of Belgium (Facebook / @TOBWex)
1871 N. High St. (inside the Wexner Center for the Arts)
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-2233
Open Mon-Fri, 8 am – 4 pm
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Monday, January 31, 2011 at 12:30 p.m.

IMPRESSIONS: I’ve been a fan of Taste of Belgium’s waffles for some time now, having first discovered them when they opened a stall at the North Market. If you’ve never tried one of their signatures, you’re missing an opportunity to re-define how you think about waffles. Here they serve the authentic Belgian version, which are very unlike your thin, flat toaster-made waffle. A true Belgian waffle (Liege-style, at least) is made using a thick batter infused with beet sugar. The waffle is smaller, thicker, marbled with caramelized sugars, and a wonderful hand-held snack.

The Wexner location is Taste of Belgium’s second in Columbus. The Wexner announced months ago that they were seeking a replacement for the generic Cam’s on Campus. In my opinion, ToB is the perfect fit for the Wexner: still a casual cafe and coffee shop, but with an international flair.

ATMOSPHERE: You can find the cafe by heading down the big staircase in the Wexner’s main entryway. It’s hard to miss once you get to the lower floor (where you’ll also find the entrances to the bookstore, video theatre, galleries, etc.). Line yourself up to order at the counter.

You may have to step forward to grab a menu while you wait in line. This isn’t too bad to deal with if you’re know about it, but I think it would be handy if they put more of their menu on the wall. You can help out, though: once you’re done with your menu, be a pal and pass it back to the next person.

There’s a fair amount of seating around the cafe. Once you’ve ordered, take your number and find a table. Be advised that, during peak hours, tables can fill up. You are on the campus of the largest university in America, after all.

The cafe seating is nice and bright, even though you’re partially below ground.

FOOD: Because this location of ToB is more of a traditional cafe, their menu is expanded beyond the waffles, crepes, and coffee offered in the North Market. The market is aimed more so at the walk-and-eat crowd. Here you’ll find the full coffee shop lineup of drinks: espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, all made using coffee from Coffee Emporium in Cincinnati. Other drinks include hot and cold cider, tea, or blended drinks using coffee or fruit. Food-wise, you’ve got sweet and savory crepes; soup, salad, and sandwiches; fruit, yogurt, and muesli; frittatas; and oatmeal. Really a nice mix.

Taste of Belgium’s signature piece is the waffle, so the cafe offers a couple different spins on it. I ordered the Waffles Rancheros.

The Rancheros takes one of their waffles, and adds a small souffle-like pile of scrambled eggs, topped with a spicy salsa. Comes with a side salad with a dash of vinaigrette.

Nice cross section of it. The Rancheros are a little hard to cut with a fork and knife – the eggs are fluffy but the waffle’s a little crisp. Still, the combination of sweet waffle, savory eggs, and spicy salsa comes together well. Add the salad to that, and baby, you’ve got a lunch on.

If you’re in a sweeter mood (awww…), you can order the waffle with toppings. You have a choice of fruit – that day it was blueberries or bananas – plus optional whipped cream (note: whipped cream is not really an optional thing). The fruit and sweet cream are a nice complement to the dense, sugary waffle.

SERVICE: Despite the sometimes long lines (especially in between classes), the food service is pretty quick. If you’re eating in the cafe, just take your number to your table and they’ll find you. The folks behind the counter are nice – not terribly talkative – but nice nonetheless.

OVERALL: I’m very glad to have Taste of Belgium on campus. I think the fit is perfect for the Wexner Center, and it offers an alternative to the fast food along High Street or all the campus-run cafeterias. I hope that the campus community appreciates what we have here, and that Taste of Belgium becomes a mainstay of OSU dining.

OTHER LINKS:
-> full Taste of Belgium website

Buckeye Donuts | Columbus, OH

Buckeye Donuts (Facebook)
1998 N. High St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 291-3923
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Accepts cash and credit cards
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? N/N/N

Date of Visit: Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: I’m a terrible member of the Ohio State University community. Why? Because after 8+ years of teaching and studying at the University, I’ve never once been to Buckeye Donuts. I’m surprised they gave me my degree. Buckeye Donuts has been maintaining tradition for a scant 42 years, and it was my duty as an Ohio State student and Columbus resident to patronize the establishment.

Fortunately, I have remedied my misdeeds and paid them the first of hopefully many visits. Buckeye Donuts is located, as you would expect, right across from Ohio State’s campus on the main drag of High Street.

It’s a small family business that’s been running since 1969. Jimmy Barouxis followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, and took over the business in 2001.

Aside from their pastries, Buckeye Donuts has a small menu of sandwiches, French toast, and the standard sides. Note two things in the picture above: the spelling of “Breakfast Spesial,” and tater tots on the menu.

Buckeye Donuts is a good stop on any Columbus diner tour as well. Check out the curving counter and the tiny red stools.

FOOD: But of course, the real stars are the donuts. Students past, present, and future visit Buckeye Donuts for a taste of their apple fritters, Bismarks, Buckeyes (choc + peanut butter), longjohns, sprinkled, cake, glazed, and more. A donut is a cheap snack; perfect for the college student budget.

I ordered a mixed half dozen. Each one of these donuts was delicious. My personal favorites were the longjohns. These always bring back memories of getting donuts from a local grocery store growing up. To this day, whenever someone mentions getting donuts, this is the first thing that comes to mind. Always custard-filled.

They generally make two big batches each day. One early in the morning around 5:00 a.m., and a second smaller one roundabouts 7:00 or 8:00 p.m.

SERVICE: Service is very quick and friendly. They can pack up donuts to go for you, or you can have a seat and enjoy a pastry or a hot breakfast. While I visited, Jimmy let me poke around in the back, too.

Two guys were running the small kitchen, making egg sandwiches and French toast on the flattop.

Jimmy asked this gentleman – in Greek – how long he’s been making donuts there. The reply, in Greek: 34 years.

He was working on a batch of cinnamon rolls.

Lots of donuts ready to go…

…ready for some glazing!

The best way to become someone’s hero is to show up with a box of donuts. Buckeye Donuts can help you achieve that.

OVERALL: As I said, I think Buckeye Donuts is a must-stop for donuts in Columbus. They aren’t my top favorite, and they certainly keep mostly to traditional styles. But it’s got a unique Columbus flair to it, it’s part of a long tradition at Ohio State, and it’s always good to support a family business!

NOTE: There is another Buckeye Donuts on Columbus’ south side, but it is only loosely connected with this one. This store is the original; the south side location is run by another part of the family.

OTHER LINKS:
-> my (614) Magazine write-up on donuts (including Buckeye Donuts)

Hang Over Easy | Columbus, OH

Hang Over Easy (Facebook / @hangovereasy)
1646 Neil Ave. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 586-0070
Breakfast served all day: Mon-Fri 7-3; Sat-Sun 9-3
Accepts cash & credit cards

Date of Visit: Friday, February 29, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Q: In addition to Jack & Benny’s, where do Ohio State students eat breakfast? A: Hang Over Easy.

The small store-front of Hang Over Easy is located close to the heart of The Ohio State University, right next to the Medical Center. I’ve been driving past it or years, and actually used to grumble that it stole the name for my future breakfast joint: Nick’s Diner. Recently, however, the owner of Hang Over Easy (uncannily named Nick) renamed the restaurant to the current catchy/snarky nomenclature, revamped the menu, and added a bar to appeal to the college crowd. A reader of the blog (yay, I have a reader!) brought it back to my attention, and always in the mood for a new breakfast joint, Karl and I ventured out.

ATMOSPHERE: Hang Over Easy wasn’t busy when we entered, but by the time we left, it was hoppin’. The crowd was mostly – but not exclusively – college students. The restaurant definitely has a classic diner quality going on, with the colorful paint-job, the counter and stools, the chrome-piped chairs, the low ceilings, and the jukebox music.

There are obviously elements that are meant to appeal to the college crowd. See above: old six-pack beer cartons used as the salt/pepper/ketchup/hot sauce holders. That tells you something about the place right there! Not necessarily bad, but clearly the owner has a college crowd in mind, and wants to remind them, while they’re eating breakfast, that Hang Over Easy is a bar, too.

FOOD: Hang Over Easy’s breakfast menu is sizable. They use a large, white cardstock menu, on one side of which is the breakfast. The other side offers a huge list of salads, burgers, and sandwiches.

All in all, there’s something for everyone in the menu. The main feature is the list of 16 breakfast “staples,” which includes such creatively-named items as the Red Eye, Ramblin’ Man, Amsterdam, Fat Joe’s, Cockadoodledoo, The Angry Egg, and – and this had to be on the menu, given the restaurant’s name – the Ultimate Hangover Cure. (This consists of 3 eggs, 4 pancakes or 3 slices of French toast, 2 meats, potatoes, and toast.) (On a side note… not that I’m an expert at hangovers, but would eating about five pounds of fried food really make you feel better?) The list of staples also includes such, well, staples like French toast, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, yogurt parfaits, and more. In addition, Hang Over Easy serves breakfast sandwiches, a variety of omelets, and skillets. You can “jack up” any item on the menu by adding onions or cheese, subbing a bagel for toast, or adding cream cheese. I’ll also point out that you can add chocolate chips to any pancake, waffle, or French toast. Suffice it say… you can customize your breakfast to your tastes, whims, or needs.

Karl and I both chose the Ramblin’ Man. This is 2 eggs any style, potatoes, toast, and 2 slices of French toast or 2 pancakes. I went with the pancakes; Karl opted for French toast. The reader who recommended this place told me I should try the homemade sausage patty, which I did, and found to be very tasty. I like it when sausage is homemade, so points to Hang Over Easy for making their own – it’s flavorful and well-cooked. If I want perfectly-circular Jimmy Dean sausage patties, I’ll go to Giant Eagle.

The eggs were fine, the toast was buttered and a little floppy, and the potatoes were interesting. As you can see in the picture above, the hash browns were orange. This is because Nick, the owner, concocted his own seasoning. The server said it included paprika and seasoned salt (or “special salt,” as my family knows it). I like that he’s chosen to season things himself, rather than just frying it and coating it with salt, although honestly the flavors didn’t quite connect with me.

The carbs were quite good. Karl said he enjoyed his French toast – nicely dusted with powdered sugar, and I simply devoured my pancakes. Couldn’t tell if the syrup was the real deal or the high-fructose variety. I’m guessing the latter.

The coffee was a “passable brown,” in Karl’s words. Not the “Aristotelian ideal” of Goody Boy’s, but it serves a purpose. We were enamored, however, with the mugs. Nice, thick white mugs, with big walls so you don’t burn your hands, and large handles so you can fit all your fingers through. Minor details, but they do mean something, don’t they?

SERVICE: Our server was excellent – probably the best serving experience I’ve had so far while writing this blog. She was incredibly friendly and outgoing, laughed at all of our jokes, and answered all our questions. She let me take home a menu (she said they’ve been “temporary” for about six months), and told us about the history of the diner. She’s worked there for over four years, so she had seen the transition from Nick’s Diner to Hang Over Easy. She said Nick changed the name because he hopes to franchise the restaurant in other college and university towns. To his credit, I think he has something going, if the crowds of Ohio State students are anything to go by.

OVERALL: Hang Over Easy is definitely intended for the college crowd: the decor, the names of the menu items, the music, the TV’s, the bar. But don’t let that keep you away. I certainly don’t think I would visit later in the day, but its breakfast is more than adequate. Plus, if you’re an early riser, you’ll probably beat a lot of the students to breakfast, so you can easily find a seat. So I suggest taking a look, at least once!

Special note: thanks for reader John for suggesting the place!

OTHER LINKS:

-> Columbus Alive’s review

Jack & Benny’s | Columbus, OH

Jack & Benny’s (Facebook / @JackBennysDiner)
2563 N. High St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43202
(614) 263-0242
Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (breakfast served all day)
Accepts cash & debit/credit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: July 4, 2007, 10:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: So I’m actually reviewing this place after the third visit. I guess this one just required some more research! Oh well… I’ve been driving by Jack & Benny’s for five years now; that big “Breakfast served all day” has tempted me, and when I read about the place as one of the “Ten Places Every Ohio State Student Should Go Before Graduating,” (see here) I knew I had to visit. I finally went with Chip one morning while working on our house. For anyone who has been to Yesterdog in Grand Rapids, MI, I usually frame a description of Jack & Benny’s by saying that this place looks like a Yesterdog that serves breakfast. The building is early/mid-2oth century, with wooden floors, a tin ceiling, a big long counter with swiveling stools, and booths against the walls. Hanging on the walls are signed pictures of famous people who have frequented the place, most notably a range of Ohio State football players and coaches. There’s more than one photo of the owners with Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressell (aka God). On the other walls hang old Coca-Cola posters; one display case is crammed full of Ohio State bobbleheads; another shelf is lined with old beer steins and coffee mugs. And all of this adds up to something: from 2004 to the present, the restaurant was voted the AOL City’s Best Breakfast and Best Comfort Food.

The restaurant itself is located on a busy corner at Hudson St. and N. High St., just north of the campus area. It’s within walking distance of practically every Ohio State student who lives close to campus. Parking is easy: there are 2-hour spaces along High St. right next to the restaurant, as well as spaces on some side streets, although all bets are off on football Saturdays: the High St. spots are null and void those days (to keep people from parking there and walking to the stadium). If the place is busy, you have to sign in on a little pad, and they won’t seat you until everyone in your party is there. The one time I’ve been there when it’s busy, we only waited 5-10 minutes before a table opened. They cycle folks in and out pretty quickly.

ATMOSPHERE: As expected from any diner – especially one this small – the place is noisy, busy, and crowded. But there’s a certain charm to it all. It’s the noise of close conversations, the cook clattering his instruments against the stove, the dishwasher spraying dishes in the corner, and the ding of the “Order up” bell. The place is typically full of students and families. Two TVs hanging up in the corners are tuned to CNN, although you can never hear them.

FOOD: Jack & Benny’s menu isn’t exceptional, although there’s a range of choices, plus a kids menu and a lunch menu (which I didn’t explore). Everything from omelets (plenty of variations on a theme there), basic meat-n-eggs combos, pancakes and other carbs, and the all-in-one combos, aka the Busters (I’ll get to those in a moment). The charm is in the details: The food is served on good ole plastic diner plates, set atop plastic placemats. The creamer for your coffee is served chilled. On my third visit, I sat at a counter stool, and my legs didn’t fit. While sitting there, I watched the cook fold an omelet five times over in one scoop.

Jack & Benny’s signature items include two dishes. One is the Buckeye pancake. I’ve never tried it, although Ryan did when I went with he and Karl on my second visit. He declared it good: it’s a pancake with chocolate chips and peanut butter, aka the Buckeye! The second is the Busters, which are a series of entrees that involve the following: an egg cooked to order, a slice of bacon, a sausage patty, a potato pancake, hash browns, cheese, toast, and sausage gravy to cover it all. Different Busters sport different combinations, and the big one, the Gut Buster, includes all of the above. My Gut Buster is pictured below (on the left):

Below is a close-up of the fabled Buster. It really doesn’t live up to it’s name. Instead, it’s just a tasty, filling breakfast. The gravy is nice and peppery, the bread is a little too slathered with butter, but the portions aren’t out of control. Now that I look at it, it really doesn’t look that large. It’s not like this is an omelet with 5 pounds of meat, 12 eggs, and a stick of butter. This meal will fill you up, but it won’t leave you sitting on the can the rest of the day.

Jack & Benny’s, like all good diners and breakfast nooks, serves their coffee in those curious brown diner mugs. There’s something heartlessly generic but heartwarmingly familiar about those mugs. They’re used to serve a particular brand of coffee, most often known as “brown.” For a deeper look into the search for brown, I refer you to my favorite expert on all things coffee-related, Mr. Karl Boettcher.

When I was last at Jack & Benny’s, I snapped a picture of my coffee mug with my cell phone camera. I just had to capture the phenomenon. I think that these little brown mugs are a perfect specimen of Americana. In addition to hot dogs, rock and roll, and baseball, this is our contribution to world culture.

SERVICE: The service is straightforward diner service: fast, friendly, and over-attentive. The first time Chip and I visited, the server hovered over us and refilled our coffee practically after every sip. There seems to be a regular crowd of servers there, perhaps they’re family. The food comes out quickly, and everything is handled fast. What more can I say? They know how to make you feel welcome and how to feed you quickly.

OVERALL: Jack & Benny’s is not the place for your elegant brunch. It’s a straightforward, American diner. The food is basic, well prepared, and easy to eat. It’s inexpensive, too; most entrees will run you $4-6, and will completely fill you up. And in addition to being a good meal, it’s worth stepping back in time and experiencing the American and, more specifically, the Buckeye, flavor of the place.

OTHER LINKS: