This Week's Counter: Gracie's Diner & More

We had to make a trip over to Willowick, northeast of the city, and so we searched for a counter in the area that we could visit. We had been to a bunch of places already around Mentor, Willoughby further east, and knew there had to be more in Euclid, Wickliffe, Willowick or Eastlake -- these are largely blue-collar suburbs that are the kind of place you'd expect diner-like restaurants.  A web search turned up Gracie's in Eastlake -- not far from the water where the Chagrin River empties into Lake Erie.  

The place was pretty quiet on a very late Saturday morning.  The owner seemed to know everyone, like the place was mostly frequented by regulars.  No problem getting seats at the counter and we quickly had drinks and our order in to the friendly server who turned out to be the owner (she told us her daughter is the namesake "Gracie").  The "& More" refers to donuts -- behind the counter was a big set of racks for donuts, mostly empty since they apparently get quickly sold earlier in the day.  

Despite it being lunchtime, we all chose breakfast. Western omelet, potatoes and coffee for Ted, pancakes and bacon for Cam, and a cheese omelet and bacon for Tami, who joined us on this outing.  All the food was cooked nicely and very tasty.  Potatoes could have been cooked at bit more and the coffee was average, but all around a good meal.  It's not much to look at and very out-of-the-way (unless you happen to be driving down Route 2 out toward Mentor or something), but worth the visit if you want quick, cheap and good.

                          

Cam says: "Great service and great food quality. Decent counter. I'll give it 9 frying pans."

Ted says: "Super-friendly service by the owner and a homey, comfortable atmosphere. Far from high-end as you can get, but food was pretty good and it's very inexpensive.  A strong 8 frying pans."

Tami says: "Clean, friendly owner and good food.  I'll give it 7 frying pans."

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."