This Week's Counter: Mary's Diner in Geneva

A couple weeks ago, a friend recommended Mary's Diner out in Geneva.  So when we happened to be making a trip to Mentor, we decided to drive the extra 20 minutes East and give it a try.  If you are going to Geneva-on-the-Lake, you have to pass through downtown Geneva, and Mary's is located just a bit to the East.

This one is a classic diner, all chrome on the outside, and linoleum on the inside.  Pretty spacious and very clean.  It's decorated with a lot of 50's and 60's memorabilia and seems to attract a crowd of locals and bikers (or bikers who are locals).  It was surprisingly quiet at lunchtime on the Saturday when we visited, so there was no problem getting seats at the large and comfortable counter.

Mary's has a great menu for both breakfast and lunch -- really wide variety of choices. Cam had to try the chicken fingers and fries, which he deemed to be pretty good (but not at the top of his all-time list).  Ted had his usual eggs, potatoes and toast, but with the addition of bratwurst from the West Side Market -- something you don't generally see on a breakfast menu.  It was a great combination -- the bratwurst was really good and the rest was pretty OK.  Service throughout was very friendly, but unfortunately the food was VERY slow coming out, surprising given the place was not crowded.

Glad we made the trip out to Mary's -- Geneva is a nice little town and it was fun to go somewhere different.  Good place if you want a classic diner experience.

            

Cam says: "Very traditional diner atmosphere with good food. Service was slow but the counter was very comfortable. I give this one 8 frying pans."



Ted says: "Maybe a good place to go for a road trip in the summer. Super-friendly service, but a bit slow. Food was good -- not standout, but solid. I'll go with.6 frying pans."

This Week's Counter: Fred's Diner in Akron

Running out of East side counters (at least all the ones we know about) we have to venture a bit farther from home.  We had read about Fred's, down on the North side of Akron, and decided to try it.  It's only about 35 mins from home, not too far.

Fred's is located in a semi-industrial part of the city -- not exactly a rough neighborhood, but certainly not an attractive one.  It's a small building that doesn't look at all like a restaurant on the outside -- plain white cement, few windows.  When we got there the parking lot was packed, with overflow across the street. 

Inside it looks more like somebody's house than a restaurant -- wallpaper and hanging lamps like you might have had in your kitchen in the 70's. Lots of stuff on the walls and a big crowd eating or waiting for tables gave the place a very chaotic atmosphere.  Amazingly we grabbed the only 2 open seats at the medium-sized counter right away.

Even though it was near lunchtime, Cam decided to go with breakfast -- specifically the breakfast sandwich with egg and bacon.  He loved it. Ted had the usual eggs, potatoes, toast and bacon -- all excellent, and they don't hold back on the amount of bacon.  Coffee was average, but good enough.  All throughout, service was excellent -- you really feel welcome here.

It's a bit out of way, but well worth the trip -- we strongly recommend Fred's if you happen to be down in Akron, Cuyahoga Falls or the vicinity.  Great food (quality and quantity) at low prices, loud, busy, and nice people.

Cam says: "Perfect meal with great service.  A hectic and compact environment that makes it a bit overwhelming. I give this one 7 frying pans."



Ted says: "You have to love a place where the staff wears T-shirts that say "Eat. Pay. Get Out".  A little too cramped and busy, but excellent food and a great value. 8 frying pans."

This Week's Counter: Yours Truly Medina

We finally made the trip out to Medina to visit the last of the Yours Truly restaurants in the chain -- we had been to the counter at each of the others, and this was #8.  It's about a 30 -minute drive southwest, not right around the corner but also not too far.

This is one of the larger restaurants in the chain -- similar to the Shaker Square location, with a big counter.  We had no trouble getting a seat, even though it was prime time on Saturday late morning.  

Service was pretty typical fast and friendly, like all the YTs.  And the food was also good as usual.  Cam had chicken fingers and cottage fries, and Ted had the usual YT breakfast -- eggs, bacon, toast and well-done potatoes.  Everything was cooked as ordered.  You can count on consistency here for sure.

Nothing special about this YT location, so unless you are in Medina already there's no reason to make the trek.  But really glad we went, and can now say we have visited every YT in existence!

   

Cam says: "Usual YT service and food quality.  Comfortable counter and friendly staff.  I'll give this counter 7 frying pans."



Ted says: "Scores well for accuracy of everything and consistency with all the other locations. Doesn't stand out from the others, but solid.  7 frying pans."