This Week's Counter: Silver Skillet Cafe

We learned from a friend about this fairly new diner in Chesterland -- the Silver Skillet Cafe.  Last weekend we made it over there to try it, but unfortunately couldn't get seats at the (very small) counter -- not wanting to wait so long, we grabbed a table and had an excellent meal. It was so good that we decided to come back again the next Saturday. And this time we easily got seats at the counter.  

This family run place doesn't look like much from the outside (and the interior is nothing fancy either), but the food and service are amazing.  We quickly had menus, drinks and our orders in.  Excellent coffee to start with while waiting for the food. 

They are open for breakfast and lunch, and have an extensive menu covering both. We were there late-morning so could have gone either way.  We saw lots of French toast leaving the kitchen, so that's likely a great choice, seems very popular.  Cam went with chicken and fries -- both were excellent, large pieces of real white-meat chicken with crispy batter.  Ted had an omelette with vegetables and cheese, and home fries.  The omelette was fluffy and perfect inside, and the potatoes were well-done as-ordered.  The quality of the food was outstanding all around.  And the staff was really friendly and attentive -- refills of coffee kept happening without asking.  

This is now one of our most favorite counters -- the combo of friendly, attentive service and excellent food make for a perfect meal. It's a little out of the way, but if you are on the East side and in the vicinity, a visit here will be well worth your time and money.  

 

Cam says: "Great service, incredible food quality and comfortable counter. Lacks a bit of atmosphere. But I'll give it 9 frying pans."

Ted says: "Couldn't really ask for better quality of food and service -- at the top of my list of favorites now. Deserving of 9 frying pans."

This Week's Counter: Retro Dog

We wound up here somewhat by accident, during an aborted attempt to visit Hamburger Station (formerly Yasoo) in Cuyahoga Falls -- which we found out upon arrival doesn't do breakfast anymore and has basically 5 menu items, none of which we liked. So searching for something else in the area, we found Retro Dog, just west of Rt 8 on Steels Corners Rd.

In the nice weather, it looks like they do a drive-in type of service.  Being very early Spring and cold out, they weren't doing that yet, so we went inside.  The place looks like it was modern (despite the name) and busy at one point, but now is just kind of quiet and a little sad -- obviously struggling to survive.  They have a dozen different kinds of hot dogs with weird toppings, burgers and a few other random things.  The menu items are on the wall behind the counter, you order and they serve up the food (no table service).  The small counter seems more of a visual feature that's not used - but we sat there anyway.

Cam went with chicken and fries -- chicken was just OK, fries were not bad.  Ted had a burger -- pretty decent, good size and cooked OK.  As we were eating, the place got a little busier, mostly families with small kids or people that didn't seem to care too much about eating healthy -- there isn't a single thing on the menu that doesn't include frying, fat, grease, etc. 

It got the job done for us when we didn't have an alternative, but would probably have to be forced to go back.  You can find much better burgers, dogs and chicken in loads of places, and in much more comfortable and interesting surroundings. Unfortunately not highly recommended.

 

Cam says: "Restaurant chain-like atmosphere, just average food quality and service.  I'll give it 4 frying pans."

Ted says: "Weird place -- trying to be cool and "retro" but not really working. Food was decent, but zero points for atmosphere. I can't give it more than 3 pans."