Daybreak Diner | Columbus, OH

Daybreak Diner (Facebook / @daybreakdiner)
1168 E. Weber Rd. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43211
(614) 261-4560
Open Mon-Fri, 7 am – 12 pm; Sat & Sun, 8 am – 2 pm
Accepts cash and credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Monday, January 17, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: In my opinion, Columbus can always use another diner, especially to serve a neighborhood that doesn’t have one yet. So we were pleasantly surprised when we glimpsed the tiny store front of the Daybreak Diner down Weber Road. My brother-in-law and I are always on the lookout for more diner breakfasts, so we headed there on a free Monday morning.

ATMOSPHERE: The diner was pretty quiet – only one other customer – when we first arrived, although the tables slowly filled up. Daybreak Diner is very diner-y. It’s like the owner had a checklist of The Things You Need In A Diner that he checked off one by one as he opened the restaurant. (P.S. that’s not a bad thing.)

Counter with stools? Check. Big open grill? Check. Brown coffee mugs? Check. Pastries under glass? Check. 1950′s memorabilia? Check. Daily specials written on a chalkboard? Check.

It’s all there. The only thing I didn’t like about the atmosphere were the TVs tuned to Jerry Springer or Maury Povich. I have nothing against TVs in restaurants; in fact, most of my favorite places will have a TV running a local/national news station or the Weather Channel. More and more I find daytime television off-putting, and while these TVs weren’t loud (that would be an entirely different issue), I just found it at odds with the laid-back diner atmosphere to have half-bleeped arguments and Maury repeating, “You ARE the father” in the background while I eat.

FOOD: Daybreak’s menu surprised me with a few new things for breakfast. Aside from the diner mainstays of egg combos, omelets, French toast, and pancakes, there are more unique offerings like a Cheeseburger Omelet, Breakfast Fried Rice, and Captain Crunch French toast.

Coffee was served in those beautiful brown diner mugs. Check! The coffee itself was so-so diner coffee.

See that? That, to me, is a good diner breakfast: a big plate full of food. This is the Three Eggs platter. Toast and sausage were good, scrambled eggs done just right, not dry at all, and the hash browns were some of the best I’ve had in Columbus. Browned evenly without being burned, nice mix of seasoning on it. I saw the owner make a huge batch on the flattop, pouring them from a bag. I assumed they were frozen, but he said on Twitter they were not, so I’m guessing they were pre-made in the back? Maybe they’re not the greatest hash browns ever, but more places in Columbus serve home fries, so hash browns are always welcome. They’re my preferred preparation of breakfast potatoes.

Out of curiosity, we had to order the Captain’s French toast. Mind you, we’ve had a superb version at the Blue Moon Cafe in Baltimore (and one featured on the Food Network, at that), so our standards are pretty high. Our expectations were dashed a bit when we saw that the Captain Crunch was sprinkled on top of the toast, rather than being part of the batter. I prefer it grilled to the bread itself, so that the sugary cereal gets caramelized and crusty. This was simply good French toast with a dusting of crushed cereal.

SERVICE: Our server was very nice. Took care of us just like you would expect. Very friendly. Kept our coffee refilled, helped accommodate my 2.5-year-old son, and the food came out quickly.

OVERALL: A mix of reactions, but overall very positive. The food blends nicely with the diner atmosphere and the service. Most dishes were maybe a $1 more than their equivalent at other diners around town, but nothing beyond-the-budget. And there’s some more interesting stuff on the menu that will make me return. At the very least, I want to have more of those hash browns.

OTHER LINKS:

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)

Fitzy’s Old Fashioned Diner | Columbus, OH

Fitzy’s Old Fashioned Diner
1487 Schrock Rd. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 846-1004
Open 24 hours a day
Accepts cash and credit cards
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? N/N/N

Date of Visit: Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 9:15 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: If diners were people, Fitzy’s Old Fashioned Diner would be the bad-ass older brother you look up to: he’s a little gruff, he’s got posters of girls on his walls, he likes cars, he never goes to bed, and he eats a lot. Parked up on Schrock Road near the big Budweiser plant, Fitzy’s is a classic-looking diner with a little sass and a lot of character. It’s rough around the edges, hung posters of Marilyn Monroe and classic cars, and caters to any crowd, whether you’re stumbling in from a local bar at 2:00 a.m., or settling in for a pleasant 10:00 a.m. meetup with friends.

Owner Mike Lott just celebrated ten years of doing breakfast and more at Fitzy’s. He opened the place in July of 2000, serving his first customer Phil at 5:30 am and closing up shop at 3:00 pm. (P.S. Phil still comes in at 5:30 every morning.) After noticing the trends in crowds, he opened up during third shift to serve the bar customers, and eventually added second shift, too. Quite the unusual order – 1st, 3rd, then 2nd shift – but the result is that rarity of a good Columbus breakfast spot that’s open twenty-four hours a day.

Mike is big and brash, and a lot of fun to talk to. He proudly defends his place, and will fight for his customers. He’s also perfectly honest about his food and his clientele: “We’re selling pork and we’re selling pork fat,” he says. “That’s what America loves. It’s called a greasy spoon for a reason.” In addition to running the great American Diner, Mike occasionally hosts classic car shows with Marilyn Monroe look-alikes.

ATMOSPHERE: I visited Fitzy’s on a relatively quiet Thursday morning, with my occasional breakfast partner Jason. A few other tables were full, but otherwise the crowd was sparse. The nice thing about Fitzy’s round-the-clock availability is that you can visit whenever it best suits your mood. Up for a rowdy atmosphere? Visit at midnight on a weekend. Mike says he has to hire a cop to keep things under control (ask him about the velvet Marilyn Monroe poster that got destroyed). Or if you’re up for something quieter, stop by during second shift – still their slowest period, Mike says.

Have a look around Fitzy’s, and you’ll see all the standard American diner decor. Checkered floor. Counter with swivelly stools. Pictures of Elvis and JFK. Old-timey register. Brown coffee mugs.

FOOD: The breakfast menu is one page long and covers all the basics, but there are a couple items I haven’t seen that often, like the Steak Omelet and the Bologna & Eggs.

No matter you what order, or what time of day it is, prepare yourself to be served a crap-ton (actual unit of measurement) of food. Fitzy’s is up there with some of the largest portions I’ve seen.

Here’s our food when it arrived. Mike made special mention of their home-fried potatoes. He said his loyal customers clamor for them, and he’d probably lose half his clientele if he ever changed the recipe. All the potatoes are hand-washed, peeled, boiled, and sliced before browning on the flattop. Mike says they go through a ton of potatoes every month.

Jason ordered the Steak Omelet with pepperjack cheese. Came with a side of the home fries. The steak is cooked to order. Your choice of cheese. Jason said it was quite good, and huge by any standards.

He ordered a side of the corned beef hash, too. It had a very generous crust, and was slightly sweet.

I was too curious about the Sausage Steak & Gravy not to order it, so I did. Not just sausage gravy and biscuits, mind you. But a gigantic sausage patty with gravy.

Oh, and a massive side of eggs and potatoes.

Oh, and they’ll let you substitute your toast with a pancake or french toast.

Birds-eye view of our breakfast. Can you count the plates?

They also serve Ronz Original Hot Sauce, made here in Columbus.

Overall, I’d judge the food to be, well, good diner food. Mike has reason to be proud of it. The eggs and pancakes were done well, the sausage patty tasted great (although I doubt it was made in-house). The gravy had a good peppery kick to it, and the potatoes – not the best I’ve ever had – but they tasted fresh and were nice and crispy. Nothing really to rave about, but certainly nothing to complain about, either.

SERVICE: Our service was very fast and very friendly, although we clearly got the royal treatment after our talk with the boss-man. But our server gave us the appropriate amount of sass to make us feel at home in a diner.

OVERALL: Mike’s got a good thing going at Fitzy’s. His restaurant started small, originally only the left side of the restaurant, with a counter and four 2-tops. Over the years, he’s expanded to take up a larger space, including knocking out an efficiency apartment in the back and expanding his bathrooms into it. Mike has created an institution, complete with semi-famous regulars and servers. Fitzy’s is the rough-and-rowdy diner, which means you’ve got to be in the mood for it, but the next time you need a good breakfast, and at any time of day, skip those late-night chains and give Fitzy’s a try.

OTHER LINKS:
-> my (614) Magazine write-up on Columbus diners (article is offline)

Dan’s Drive-In | Columbus, OH

Dan’s Drive-In
1881 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 444-7590
Open Mon – Sat, 7 am – 9 pm; Sun 7 am – 3 pm
Accepts cash and credit cards

Date of Visit: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Dan’s has long been on my to-visit list of Columbus diners. I remember doing a double-take years ago when I drove past it on South High Street. “Wait, there’s a diner there?” I said as I blazed by. But a little “research” for a certain article in (614) Magazine led me to this South Side mainstay.

ATMOSPHERE: Walking into Dan’s is taking a step back into a history that’s been carefully recreated in gleaming chrome and shiny red pleather. The “classic American diner” that’s boasted on the signs is indeed alive and kicking, although maybe in a little too neat-and-polished type of way.

A quick look around shows you that Dan’s clearly has its regulars, thus it fulfills part of the criteria for being an old-school diner. When my bro-in-law and I visited, we found the regular group of old guys all crowded around a table shootin’ the, well, you know.

A plaque near the front door gives you some context for the history of Dan’s. The lowdown is: Dan’s claims to be Columbus’ oldest drive-in, started downtown by Dan Manes in 1952. Later that decade, he moved it to the current location, and it’s changed hands several times over the years, including a few years ownership under Nick Bergados, chef of the now-gone Taverna Opa. Nick apparently headed up the revamp of the space.

To be honest, the redesign looks beautiful. It’s sparkling clean and colorful. Everything matches. The ceiling fans have sets of blades that turn opposite each other…

…a big display behind the counter showcases model cars, neon signs, flags, and brand name kitsch…

…and the walls and shelves are lined with little knick-knacks.

BUT… the end result is a beautiful diner that feels a little sterile. Yes, the building retains the old school shape and layout, but the decor is a little too placed, and you lose the charm of similar diners like Jack’s Sandwich Shop. Maybe there’s a lot of original pieces left from the 1950′s, but they get lost amongst all the shine.

FOOD: As with the decor, Dan’s gives you all the diner standards, in a pretty unassuming and straightforward manner. But there are no frills, aside from a couple of Greek specialties.

I ordered the Traditional Breakfast, which breaks the bank at $4.79. All told, this includes two eggs, bacon, home fries or grits, and toast. Eggs were good, bacon and potatoes crispy, toast buttery. It all needed some salt and pepper to punch it up, otherwise it was just another not-bad breakfast. Washed this down with some decent diner brown coffee.

My brother-in-law ordered the Meat Lovers Omelet. He had actually ordered the skillet version of this, but the server misheard him. Still, he liked it, but said it was nothing to write home about.

Unrelated side note: Dan’s serves Frostop Root Beer on tap. Points!

SERVICE: I got to chat a little bit with current owner Lucky Sahota, and he seems very proud of the work they do at Dan’s. Lucky has owned a handful of restaurants around the world, most recently in New Zealand, and he has big ideas for the diner here. He plans, in the next year or so, to expand the true drive-in experience, and bring back car service, complete with girls on roller skates bringing you burgers and shakes. It would be great to see him really embrace the history of Dan’s and focus on bringing out even more of its original character.

OVERALL: Dan’s is a good stop to observe a bit of Columbus culinary history and have a decent breakfast. You can easily join the ranks of their regulars, and if diner culture is your thing, it’s worth at least one visit.

OTHER LINKS:

Jack’s Sandwich Shop | Columbus, OH

Jack’s Sandwich Shop (Facebook)
52 E. Lynn St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 224-3655
Open Mon-Fri, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? N/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Tucked down one of the back alleys of downtown Columbus, a stone’s-throw from the Statehouse, is a little diner out to prove that, yes, they do make them like they used to. Jack’s Sandwich shop has been around as an institution since 1942, with this particular location serving the downtown crowds since 1974.

ATMOSPHERE: The decor and atmosphere reveal that not much has changed since the 70′s. We visited on a quiet Tuesday morning, sandwiched (ha!) between the breakfast and lunch crowds.

Like most diners, Jack’s consists of just one, long room. On one side is a row of 8 booths; on the other is a counter with 13 stools.

Owners Chris and Kathy Kowalski keep the place humming. They’ve owned the business since late 2003. Pictured here is Chris busy at the grill.

Chris was super nice to chat with, and excited to talk about his restaurant. If you’re in, say hi to him. On a side note… I asked if there ever was a Jack who gave the place his name. Indeed there was, said Chris. Jack was the previous owner’s father. He started three restaurants downtown after serving in World War II, and the current diner is the only one left.

The entire experience echoes of yesteryear, like a celebration of the diner heritage. Jack’s has got it all: the old menu sign, the Coca-Cola paraphernalia, the black and white photos of old drive-ins, the old wallpaper and neon lights, and that shelf. You know the one I’m talking about. The long shelf, high up on the wall, above all the booths, packed with train cars and retro signage. It’s a diner thing.

The old school kitschiness is matched by some of Chris’ own, like the mirror ball that, yes, is lit and spinning. Or the strings of Christmas lights draped from the ceiling. Chris said he’s known for decorating up the place for major holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc. Although I’ve definitely heard some question whether the decor is really all that seasonal.

The counter is much lower than I’m accustomed to seeing, but it offers everyone a straight view of the grill, and opens up the space better.

One of my favorite details: the checkered floor. The colors are just off enough that you notice them, but not so tacky that you don’t see anything else.

FOOD: Jack’s serves a simple diner menu, with only a handful of somewhat helpful categories: Eggs & More, Hotcakes, Breakfast Specials, Breakfast Meats, and Potatoes & Grits. I say somewhat helpful because you’ll find French toast under Eggs & More, oatmeal under Hotcakes, and waffles under both Eggs & More and Breakfast Specials.

I opted for an actual special: the steak and eggs. Nice plate of crispy potatoes, plus scrambled eggs. Eggs were good, potatoes thinly sliced and crispy, but they needed some seasoning. That prompted me to ask over Twitter: should your food be salted before it comes out, or left to the diner’s preference? The general consensus – which I agree with – was that food should be seasoned according to the chef’s desire. Unfortunately, these needed a punch up.

Close-up on the steak! It was quite good. I ordered it medium, but should have ordered medium rare. Small steaks like this can be tough to manage, and this one was a little too done. But it had a good sear and nice flavor, although it could have used an extra punch of spice, too.

My wife ordered the two eggs any style. Came with the potatoes, toast, and a side of corned beef hash. We liked that you could order the corned beef hash as your side of meat. First time I’ve seen that. But we both loved it: nice crisp, good flavor and texture.

Her two eggs – nicely poached.

SERVICE: Chris and Kathy clearly know their regulars, and treat them well. And it doesn’t take much to be welcomed as a regular right away. The feeling is mutual. Check this out: pictured above is Mr. John Petro. He’s one of about a dozen men who met regularly at Jack’s from 1968 until this past spring. So regularly, in fact, that they HAVE A PLAQUE above their table!

Look at the dates! They met from 1968 until May 13, 2010. Mr. Petro, who gave me permission to take his picture, said that Lynn Alley Irregulars were attorneys, businessmen, and the like who worked downtown. They made Jack’s Sandwich Shop their home-away-from-the-office for over four decades, and had only two rules: you couldn’t talk about work – politics, sports, anything but work – and you weren’t allowed to read the newspaper if someone else was there. You had to talk.

OVERALL: Jack’s makes my short list of really worthy diners around Columbus. Their longevity, as testified by the Lynn Alley Irregulars, and the tucked-away, side alley location add to the charm. Their breakfast definitely needs some more spice, with no surprises and super stand-outs, but it fits the atmosphere, is dirt cheap, and clearly has been a downtown favorite for decades.

OTHER LINKS:

Island Perks Diner | Buxton, NC

NOTE: Island Perks Diner is now CLOSED.

Island Perks Diner
46618 Highway 12 (map it!)
Buxton, NC 27595
(252) 986-1111
Open daily 6:30 a.m. – 9 pm (bfast served till 11:30 a.m.)
Accepts cash and credit cards

Date of Visit: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: For all of you vacationers on the Outer Banks who fretted over the lack of a breakfast diner (okay, maybe it was just me), you can fret no more. You can add Island Perks Diner to the worthy list of breakfasts on the OBX.

How do we know for sure Island Perks is a diner? Because the word is plastered all over. Island Perks is located at the northern end of Buxton, just as Highway 12 curves westward. If you’re going too fast, you could easily miss it.

ATMOSPHERE: Island Perks may be missing the surly waitresses, the old-timey counter, and the sticky menus, but it mixes the comfort of a diner with the softness (sorry, that’s the only word I can think of) of a new coffee shop. So, it doesn’t go full diner.

The entryway drops you in front of the counter. Order here and they’ll bring your food out to you.

Help yourself to coffee (four different blends – nice!) or tea behind you. The coffee was above-average – a very pleasant surprise. Putting the “perks” in Island Perks.

You can sit indoors down one long room decorated with all sorts of oceany knick-knacks.

Or seat yourself on the just-as-oceany enclosed deck, although you may have to sit with the bathroom doors behind you. This type of weathered wooden siding embodies the look of the Outer Banks. Anyone who’s traveled here recognizes the rows of wood-sided houses and businesses stretching down Highway 12.

FOOD: Island Perks offers what you would expect from a diner: decent food, but no real stand-outs. What sets theirs slightly apart is that they’re not afraid of a little seasoning. We started out with a cinnamon roll. Nice and warm. Good layers to it.

Their menu is separated into four categories: The Basics (two eggs, et al.), Breakfast Wraps (all named using OBX terms like The Cape, the Ocracoker, etc), Egg Scrambles, and Breakfast Sandwiches. Pictured above is the Number One: two eggs, bacon, biscuit, and home fries. I added a pancake and some sausage gravy for the biscuit. Pretty much everything was that basic “I will chow down on this for breakfast” but forget about it a couple days later.

Another Number One, but with eggs over-easy. The home fries were good and browned.

One of our party ordered The Kinnakeeter, a breakfast wrap with eggs, bacon, sausage, and cheese.

Yet another combo plate. The one thing I really appreciate: they’re not afraid to freakin’ season their food! At the very least, I think diners should be willing to toss some salt and pepper on those eggs and potatoes. I’m constantly surprised at the bland potatoes that a served. It’s dangerous to over-do the salt, yes, but don’t just send me a plate as if to say, “Here, you deal with it.”

SERVICE: Very friendly. One of those places where they actually took interest in the fact that I was taking pictures and writing about their restaurant, so they made an extra effort to show us around. Overall, things moved quickly. It felt like we hadn’t been sitting long at our table before our food showed up.

OVERALL: Not my top pick for breakfast on the Outer Banks, but they give you something fairly close to the diner experience, with simple food that’s decently seasoned and covers all the basics. One of the cheaper breakfasts on the island, too! I should note that they’re also a full-service bakery; later in our vacation we ordered a cake from them – we actually got to speak directly with the baker about what we wanted – and that the cake was pretty good.

OTHER LINKS:

Paxton’s Family Restaurant | Greenville, PA

Paxton’s Family Restaurant
143 Main St. (map it!)
Greenville, PA 16125
(724) 588-2424
Open 24 hours a day (special bfast menu served 5:30-11 a.m.)
Accepts cash and credit cards

Date of Visit: Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: My wife said she’s spent many-a high school 3 a.m. at Paxton’s Family Restaurant in downtown Greenville, Pennsylvania. Downtown Greenville is about as quintessentially small town America as you can get, especially the modern small town America: long-standing businesses (Hurlbert’s Hardware, The Hub, News Depot, Majestic’s) interspersed with a few new kids on the block (including the really cool Fresh Grounds Coffeehouse), and a handful of empty spaces put out of business by Walmart.

Paxton’s is one of those holders-on, quietly serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner since 19XX. Not much has changed, from the dusty decorations, the carpeted walls, and the dim lighting. If my pictures appear a little too yellow, blame the lights above our table.

ATMOSPHERE: The carpeted walls hush the sounds of locals in conversation and the kitchen clattering. Paxton’s long, thin space is divided in lengthwise by another wall, so the impression is of several inter-connected rooms stretching back into the building. If you want more light, sit in a booth towards the front of the place, next to the big plate glass windows looking out on Main Street (yes, an actual Main Street, America). If you want more quiet, particularly if you’re visiting in the middle of the night, then huddle in the back at some of the smaller tables.

You can also sit at the counter with the classic swiveling stools…

…and try to sneak a peek in the kitchen. Unlike other diners, you don’t get to sit right across from the kitchen. Bummer on that.

FOOD: “If you’re awake, we’re open,” says the menu. Get your breakfast twenty-four hours a day. (Side note: the punctuation in that sentence makes it a good candidate for The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks.)

The iconic brown diner mug. Typical okay coffee. Caffeinated and forgettable.

We started with Homemade Grilled Cinnamon Buns. The top one featured the maple glaze; the bottom is the white. Both were decent. Interesting that they’re grilled – it gives them crispy edges – but that glaze is a pure sugary punch – make your teeth chatter.

The flattest and widest cinnamon buns I’ve seen. Proudly homemade. Not exceptional, but they went quickly.

I went with the old Two Eggs +: two eggs, potatoes, bacon, toast. With your coffee, it costs a whopping $4.15. If you wanted a simpler breakfast, you can get two eggs, toast, and coffee for $2.25. Bacon was thick and crispy. The potatoes were fresh and chunked, but oh my goodness, please season your potatoes! Also, there were some eyes in them – yikes! Not good. When all else fails, I can always just put my scrambled eggs on my fake-buttered toast. Thank goodness for that. Overall, it was all just okay, but nothing to write a blog about. Oh, wait…

My wife ordered the same, but with eggs over easy. These types of breakfasts are the ones you eat while in conversation. It’s like muzak: it fills the background with some white noise that you can easily ignore. Here, you chow down on breakfast while chatting with everyone. You don’t stop to point out how good such-and-such item is, you just eat it.

We ordered a side of french toast. Again, white noise. Doesn’t taste bad (especially with the soft butter and fake syrup), but you just eat it and move on.

The one “special” menu item that caught my eye was the Deep Fried Mush. I ordered this out of curiosity, but was pretty disappointed that these were basically frozen corn meal/polenta patties you can buy in the store. And it absorbed too much of the cooking oil. More like vegetable oil patties.

And my brother-in-law ordered the Breakfast Hoagie, essentially the eggs, meat, and veggies on a hoagie bun. Don’t know if I’ve seen a breakfast sandwich before. Plenty of burritos, no sandwiches. But he said it was good.

SERVICE: Typical diner service. I almost don’t know what to say. A middle-aged server – not on the surly side, however – but nice, knows here Knowing the how old the restaurant is, I wonder how long the server has been there.

OVERALL: Places like Paxton’s keep going for a reason. They’re familiar, they have longevity, and a dedicated clientele. Returning customers like that will overlook average food, simple service, and even an out-dated location. There’s certainly no reason to make a special trip to visit, but I hope places like Paxton’s never disappear.

OTHER LINKS:

Tommy’s Diner | Columbus, OH

Tommy’s Diner (Facebook)
914 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43222
(614) 224-2422
(614) 224-2901
Open Mon-Fri, 5:30 am – 3 pm; Sat, 5:30 am – 2:30 pm; Sun, 7 am – 2 pm
Accepts cash and credit cards

Date of Visit: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 7:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: I have the feeling, as I’m stepping into Tommy’s for the first time, that I’m entering a bit of history that’s not really my own. Admittedly, I don’t venture into Columbus’ Franklinton neighborhood often enough, so I can’t claim it as my neighborhood, and thus I can’t claim a Franklinton institution like Tommy’s. At the same time, while I’m experiencing this “other part of town,” I’m feeling instantly welcomed like an old regular stopping by for the umpteenth time. Gotta love the American diner.

Tommy’s Diner is the most diner-ish diner I’ve ever visited. It’s the epitome of the classic American diner, albeit one that’s become famous in its own right and isn’t afraid to tell you about it. Most true diners are not so self-conscious, but that doesn’t take away from the experience in the least. Tommy’s has been around for over twenty years on West Broad Street, a major thoroughfare that cuts through downtown Columbus and the neighborhoods to the east and west. When you visit, you can actually meet Tommy, as well as his son Michael. Both of them will gladly share the history of their restaurant.

ATMOSPHERE: Tommy’s wasn’t very busy when we arrived – perhaps because of the heavy snow – but customers steadily rolled in nonetheless. I took the opportunity to stroll around a bit and take some pictures. All of the elements of the diner are in place: black and white checkered floor, glossy red vinyl booths and stools…

…a big curving counter, plenty of local kitsch on the walls…

…Coca Cola paraphernalia, and neon lights all over.

A WWII bomber on top of an old street sign. Tommy said he took it from Worthington.

FOOD: In line with the classic diner setup of the place, Tommy’s menu offers all the old favorites, with a few house specialties thrown in.

The breakfast menu – served any time – includes all of the good ole eggs, meat, and potatoes combos. Some featured items include steaks or pork chops and eggs (not enough places do those well), breakfast sandwiches, and omelets. There are also a handful of Greek variations, given Tommy’s background.

Very good diner coffee, in custom mugs.

I chose the Big Breakfast: 3 pancakes or 2 French toast, 2 eggs, choice of meat, potatoes, and toast.

All of this stood up to the best diner breakfasts I’ve had. Good scrambled eggs, nice browned potatoes, very good bacon, and well buttered toast. And you can’t argue with the portion size.

But I liked the French toast the best: nice thick slices of bread, with powdered sugar and a generous scoop of melting butter. I mean – what’s not to like?

My breakfasting partner, Micah, ordered the ham and cheese omelet, which he said was good. The cheese looked like American cheese, which I’m never a fan of, the omelet still seemed tasty.

SERVICE: Our server was a lot of fun – very friendly and very attentive.. She made fun of me when I seemed to be slowing down on my French toast. The best diners know how to make you feel like you’re part of the “in crowd” on your first visit. I’ve been to a few that treat you like an outsider who’s intruding on a very close circle. Tommy’s was in no way like that – we felt like part of the family instantly.

But the real treat is meeting Tommy himself, plus his son Michael. I found Tommy behind the register, and introduced myself. He talked a bit about his restaurant, and showed me the wall featuring pictures of himself with various local and national famous faces.

I snapped this picture of Tommy (on the left, in white) chatting with two regulars at the counter. Whenever he wasn’t busy at the register, he hung out with his customers.

OVERALL: What can I say? Tommy’s gets a lot of love from the Franklinton neighborhood, and with good reason. Every neighborhood of Columbus, I’m finding, has at least one great diner that they can brag on, and Tommy’s serves that purpose for Franklinton. But whether you’re from that neighborhood or not, it’s worth a visit – it’ll feel a bit like home for you.

OTHER LINKS:
-> CMH Gourmand’s post on Tommy’s

Gena’s Restaurant | Westerville, OH

Gena’s Restaurant
5947 S. Sunbury Rd. (map it!)
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 895-0089
Open Mon-Fri 7 am – 2 pm; Sat & Sun 8 am – 2 pm
Accepts cash and credit cards
Date of Visit: Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: On the same day I visited Beechwold Diner with CMH Gourmand, we also did a little breakfast recon up to Westerville. Jim had heard tell of a three-pancake challenge, and we decided to scope it out. We found Gena’s in Westerville, just off Sunbury Road outside the 270 loop. When I mapped out the address in Google Maps, it originally told us to go a half mile north of the actual location. (it looks like they fixed it now). To find Gena’s, you need to locate the Kroger Marketplace, and then head around the south side of the building. Gena’s sits in a tiny strip mall attached to Kroger.

ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant consists of one entire room, half full when we arrived. It smells and looks like something out of yesteryear. Jim and I discussed this phenomenon. Businesses that have been around since the 1960′s/70′s have this certain smell and look to them. There’s a barbershop in my hometown just like this. Wood paneling. Brown signs with movable white lettering (see below). Plates, cups, and silverware that seem original. Weak coffee that conjures memories of so many similar breakfasts in so many similar diners. The smell is indescribable but instantly recognizable. It’s the smell of forty years of business. Restaurateurs try to create retro diners or “authentic” Irish pubs all the time, but they can never actually do it. You need decades of people coming and going to create that kind of atmosphere.

FOOD: One of Gena’s claims to fame is the Greatest American Pecan Roll. The name is trademarked. And it’s not just the GREAT. They chose the superlative. It’s the GREATEST.

Jim and I each ordered one. They’re made in house, gigantic and warm, sliced horizontally so you can butter it. Laced with cinnamon on the inside and topped with pecans. There’s a delicious buttery hint to it, and it’s not too sweet. Is it great? Certainly. Is it the greatest? Debatable. To be honest, it could be sweeter. Maybe they don’t want to ruin it with a sugary glaze, but I think they could go in that direction.

As part of our recon, Jim and I each ordered one of their pancakes, and were treated with a delicious and humongous flapjack. They mean business. Not the greatest pancake I’ve ever tasted, but still very good. Even at that size, they manage to get it golden brown on the outside and warm and fluffy inside.

Frame of reference for you. The pancake felt like it weighed well over a pound. We discovered that there is, indeed, a three-pancake challenge. Our server said all three pancakes stacked together look like a birthday cake. If you eat three of these pancakes in one sitting – there’s no time limit – you get your picture and name on the wall. Over the 5+ years they’ve been doing the challenge, only thirteen people have finished it.

Jim and I discussed tactics… do you use lots of butter? Do you drown each piece in syrup? I’m sure Adam Richman would have some tips. Sometime soon we may organize a group outing here to take the challenge together, similar to the Dagwood Challenge from a couple years ago. Stay tuned!

Here’s the wall of fame. Note, only thirteen champions. All male, I believe. Of varying ages. Just recently they had to add the second frame to accommodate the achievers.

SERVICE: Our server was the sort of kind, matronly woman you would expect at this type of establishment. She was very excited to talk to us about the challenge, the history of the restaurant, and more.

OVERALL: Gena’s is another good example of the hole-in-the-wall neighborhood diner. Every neighborhood has one; every neighborhood needs one. There’s not much variety between them – Gena’s standouts really are the pecan roll and the pancake challenge – and their food is good, but rarely exceptional. But they’re cozy, they’re close to home, they’re welcoming, and they’ll feed you well.

OTHER LINKS:

Beechwold Diner | Columbus, OH

Beechwold Diner (Facebook)
4408 Indianola Ave. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43214
(614) 447-0944
Open Mon-Sat, 6 am – 2 pm (lunch starting 10:30 am); Sun, 7 am – 2 pm (breakfast only)
Accepts cash and credit cards

Date of Visit: Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 8 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: With the New Year comes new breakfast adventures! Beechwold Diner just opened on January 2 in the spot once occupied by Rube’s Diner on Indianola. After fifteen-ish years in business, Rube’s closed it’s doors in 2005. Up until this past spring, the location almost became Ginna’s Eatery (read an article on it’s “opening” here), but the attempt stalled. I never visited Rube’s, but I hear it was about as greasy hole-in-the-wall as you could get.

Well, now Beechwold Diner has taken it’s place and seems to be doing quite well for itself. I visited recently with CMH Gourmand (read his post here) so we could take stock of the place. We asked one of the owners how business was going. He said when they opened on January 2, he panicked, because no one came in the first hour of business. But then, for the next four-and-a-half hours, they were standing room only. Awesome.

ATMOSPHERE: We hit Beechwold Diner up around 8 a.m. on a Saturday, and by the time we left it was full. Typical, the owner said, of a Saturday morning. So clearly word is getting out, despite very little advertising, and the citizens of Clintonville/Beechwold seem desperate for a diner.

Beechwold Diner is a strange combination of old-style diner with fresh construction. Someone put some serious work into the place. New stainless steel everything in the kitchen, new seating, new lighting, new booths and counter, the floor looks new, too. So if Rube’s dirtiness kept anyone way, there’s no excuse now. The layout is open and bright. Big counters with about 13 stools, plus 8 tables. Fairly boring colors of browns, grays, and mauves. Comfy and easy to like. In a nod to the area’s history, a series of black-and-white photos hang on the wall, showcasing past and present Clintonville/Beechwold landmarks like Weiland’s Market, Olympic Pool, an old streetcar, and the amusement park that once existed at High Street and Kelso.

FOOD: My pics are from a combined set of visits – I really don’t order this much food in one sitting. But this allowed me to sample a wider range of things.

BD’s menu features all the breakfast standards – nothing exceptional, but enough variety for anyone. The menu is organized by variations on Two Eggs, Classics (including pancakes and sausage gravy & biscuits), Omelets, Sides, and Drinks. This is my brother-in-law’s 2 eggs, toast, and corned beef hash. Over-easy eggs done right. Buttery toast. And an excellent corned beef hash.

On my first visit I order the garbage omelet. Never actually had one of these, and our server recommended the omelets. Came with potatoes and toast. The potatoes were good – sliced thin and crispy enough. Definitely needed more seasoning, at least some salt. The toast was buttery and soggy (read: delicious).

The omelet itself had some highs and lows. Some of the ingredients weren’t spread out too well, so one end had no cheese while the other end was loaded with it. One of the cheeses looked and tasted like Velveeta – maybe it was American cheese? – and it turned me off. My advice to the Beechwold Diner folks: be a little bolder in your seasoning. We can take it. And it will make your already good food more memorable. You want people to take a bite and then start looking forward to their next visit.

On the more recent visit, I picked a half order of the sausage gravy and biscuits. Similar experience to the garbage omelet – lots to like: good biscuits, very chunky gravy – but they could punch it up a notch with more seasoning.

Half stack of pancakes, too. Nice and fluffy – I never how to get them this way at home. Very good.

And why not start the day with some dessert? Jim ordered the Hershey’s Triple Chocolate Layer Cake. It doesn’t disappoint: nice fluffy filling, great frosting, chocolate chips.

SERVICE: A very friendly group here, who seem at home with their customers. The diner is actually named Suzzie’s Beechwold Diner, but we didn’t get to meet her. Still, BD has a very comfortable atmosphere already. The servers seem to know everyone’s names already, so in this department the diner seems right on track.

OVERALL: Jim and I talked a little bit about the nature of diner fare. When you really compare diners side-by-side, there’s not much variety. Anywhere you go you’ll find the old standards, in a pretty warm and inviting atmosphere, and in a place that naturally pushes everyone to be neighbors. And that’s really what defines diners. Not the food. But the neighborhood identity, the regulars who gather to see each other and the wait staff, and the pride everyone takes in a local establishment. Beechwold Diner seems to be filling a niche for the Clintonville/Beechwold area. Sure, Wildflower Cafe is down the road, but I honestly find the place unimpressive. Nancy’s is hopefully-soon-to-be-re-opening over on High Street, but when you really think of it, Beechwold Diner feels miles away up on the northern stretch of Indianola. Clearly the neighborhood desires this establishment, because the regulars filling the tables and counters here seem to have picked up right where they left off when Rube’s closed. I’m happy to see this, and look forward to being one of those regulars, too.

OTHER LINKS:
-> CMH Gourmand’s post on BD