You Can Have Your Home Fries And Crispy Too!
It was a drizzly, humid morning in mid-July, and I was hungry. I also needed to check out the thrift store to find a black bowtie for an event I was catering. First things first, my stomach was grumbling, I had visions of Audrey ll screaming “Feed Me” to Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.
I parked my car on Hopkins and ventured in. I almost missed it, it’s one of those hidden gems you hear so much about in Lakewood.
I walked in, found a booth, and was greeted by a younger (than me) gentlemen, who I’ve come to know as the owner’s son. I saw a sign in the window for blueberry pancakes, and my eyes got big, but my brain said, “No, no, remember what happens when you eat too much gluten.” Ok, you win, I’ll have the breakfast special, two eggs, scrambled, home fries, CRISPY, I’ll try the gyro meant, and skip the toast.
My heart wanted bacon, but since I do love gyros, I opted for that. I couldn’t imagine how it would come out on the plate, I was thinking long, rectangular thick strips like in a gyro, what do I know? My food arrived in a timely manner, and I was pleasantly surprised! I actually got CRISPY home fries, is it Christmas in July?
I can’t tell you how many breakfast places I go to and order crispy home fries and evidently the rest of the world’s definition of crispy is from another dictionary other than mine. However, the Shore restaurant nailed it! Crispy it is! The gyro meat was thinly sliced and I gobbled it down.
I inquired about the steelhead trout mounted on the wall to the young man who was waiting on me, since I am also a fisherwoman, well I masquerade as one. He told me the story about how he caught it in the Metroparks, in the river, when he was seventeen. Then that story led to Larry (Pete) Peterson who owned L & D Bait and tackle back in the day. I also knew Larry well, as my daughter and I got all of our bait from him. You never know how our paths are connected, unless you try Lakewood’s hidden diners.
The restaurant, owned by a Greek couple, Tina and Angelo Skantzos, serves breakfast all day, but also lunch. Bring cash, no credit cards. Open 7 days/6am-3pm (Sat & Sun)/6am-4pm Mon-Fri 12009 Detroit Ave.
Eva Starr
Eva Starr recently moved back to her heartland state of Ohio, after the transition of her mother. Starr spent the last ten years in San Diego digesting the alluring buffet of wisdom the West Coast had to offer. While there she attended the San Diego Culinary Institute, and worked as a chef in San Diego.
Starr also published her book Quit ‘Should-ing’ on Yourself, while in San Diego featured at the 2016 LA Times Book Festival, and Oprah Winfrey’s Reading Room.
She continues to follow her metaphysical path, teaching Astrology, hosting her television show Reach for the Moon, and exploring the diversified culinary delights Lakewood has to offer.