Kathy's Dinner

CHICKPEAS: 4

6 Strong Ave, Northampton, MA

On our way to the Yankee Candle Flagship Store, we stopped for breakfast in Northampton.  This was a fairly impromptu trip, so I looked for a diner on our way.  Similar to my post office experience, the first diner we went to was closed.  We headed back into town to find Kathy's Diner and were quite pleased we did!  I discovered another blog that details the history of Kathy's.  It has quite the history, and has had many names.

Aside from the authentic diner charm, we were initially impressed by the holiday decor.

Place mats and Mugs

The walls were also are decorated with all sorts of memorabilia, which helped keep the conversation going, as people watching was not really an option.  It was not very busy the day we went, and I suspect it was because the colleges were on break.

Kathy's has a huge selection of pancakes, with all sorts of fruits, nuts and more in them.  My Fiance ordered banana chocolate chip pancakes and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.

I ordered Texas french toast and a side of eggs.

Everything was delicious and our waitress was very pleasant.  With a coffee, our bill was around $13.

It should be noted that Kathy's is open until 2am on the weekends!

Day Trip: Biltmore Bar and Grille, Newton, Massachusetts

CHICKPEAS: 5

Last weekend, we took a trip to Boston to see the Pops!  We stayed over night and had breakfast the next morning with friends.  As Newton residents, they knew just where to bring us: The Biltmore Bar and Grille. The menu was creative, the restaurant was eclectically decorated with a collection of old signs and the company was excellent.  All in all, it was one of the best breakfasts I have had in quite a while!

To begin, they brought us breakfast bread.  It was warm and delicious, so much so that we ate it all before we had a chance to take a picture.  This also happened with the order of sticky buns we got to start.

I ordered the S.S.B.L.T.  (smoked salmon, bacon, lettuce and tomato with an egg) which came with a side of sweet potato home fries.  It was the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had.

SSBLT

My Fiance decided on Huevos Tacos (sot corn tortillas stuffed with sauteed onions, peppers, chorizo, colby cheese and eggs on the sunny side, with pork shoulder hash).  Guacamole with breakfast! ... Why didn't I think of that?

Huevos Tacos

My friend ordered French Toast Crunch (thick sliced cinnamon swirl bobka, coated with captain crunch and corn flakes, vanilla frosting and warm apple butter syrup).  I had a bite and had momentary regrets about my selection (even though my sandwich was awesome!).  Oh, and that is ball of butter, not ice cream (I asked). 

French Toast Crunch

Our other friend got a daily special.  I can't remember what it was exactly, other than we fondly referred to it as the meat plate.  He cleaned his plate with no trouble.  

Meat Plate

Our four entrees, sticky buns, two juices, and one coffee came to around $60.  A bit more expensive than our usual breakfast haunts, but well worth it!

Partners Restaurant

CHICKPEAS: 4

Before we discovered Copperline, we used to go to Partners a fair amount.  We still go when meeting up with friends from Southwick, as we did last weekend before tree hunting.  I enjoy Partners because their menu has a selection of healthy options (fruit cups, wheat pancakes, sweet potato pancakes and more) as well as the less healthy diner foods.  Partners is usually packed on Sunday mornings, so get there early if you don't want to wait.

Here is what we had to eat (four of us...):

Grilled Muffin

Asparagus and Mushroom Skillet (daily specail) 

Side of Home Fries with Onions

Scrambled Eggs, Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Sausage

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich 

Corned Beef Hash, Eggs, Home Fries and Toast

The Asparagus and Mushroom Skillet was delicious, although heavy on asparagus and light on mushrooms.  Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well.  I will say the service was a little below par the day we went, but it is typically pretty good. 

Total Bill (incl. 2 chocolate milks and 3 coffees): $42

The Details:

Partners Restaurant

485 Springfield Street

Feeding Hills, MA

Al's Diner

CHICKPEAS: 1

We went to Al's Diner with a friend before going to the flea market (post to come).  We got a little confused getting their because 2 of 3 smartphones had some street names labelled wrong.  Once we got there, I was very excited because the outside had the authentic diner look.  We lucked out and got a table right away as there are only 8 or so booths and then a dozen seats at the counter.

14 Yelle Street, Chicopee, MA

Lone man working the grill

The tables had a cute little juke box.

But that is pretty much where the good review ends.  The menu was pretty short with little creativity.  My Fiance ordered a coffee which came with cream in it without that being requested, and our friend ordered a hot chocolate.  The hot chocolate didn't come 'til we asked for it a second time.

Plain Omelet? Isn't that just scrambled eggs?

We all ordered breakfast sandwiches and they were fine.  We also ordered a side of homefries to share, which were very disappointing.  They tasted like they had been frozen and had no flavor at all.  Even doused with ketchup and salt they couldn't be rejuvenated.  Additionally, they take cash only (fyi).

Breakfast sandwich and hot chocolate

Blah homefries

What we ordered:
(1) Coffee
(1) Hot Chocolate
(3) Breakfast sandwiches
(1) chocolate chip pancake
(1) side homefries
Bill = $16.00

Bottom line:
We won't be going back.

Copperline Eatery for Breakfast

CHICKPEAS: 4

As I have mentioned, we LOVE Copperline Eatery in Chicopee, MA.  On a recent weekend, we went for breakfast on Sunday.  The line was out the door when we arrived, as Sunday is definitely their busiest day.  Thankfully, we were able to snag a couple of seats at the counter.  While I normally wouldn't post twice about the same place in such a short time frame, I had to share the new information we got by sitting at the bar.

Copper Counter

1.  The counter is copper. Get it...? 
2. The homefries are premade in batches and stored on the stove.  Then they are moved to the grill where they sit beneath the ham to get some extra flavor until you order them!  DELICIOUS!
3. If you go on a Sunday and there is a long line, make sure you check the bar.  Often there are seats available.

Homefries under the ham

Since we are talking about it anyways, here is what we ate...

Banana Pancakes, Eggs, and Ham

Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a Water Roll, Homefries, and a Grilled Muffin

Copperline Eatery

CHICKPEAS: 4

My Fiance and I have recently discovered Copperline Eatery. While this doesn't seem surprising since I just moved here, he has lived in the area for three years.  Since our first trip on October 1st, we have been at least five times for breakfast and dinner.  We tried to go back again this morning (would have been our third day in a row... don't judge) but there was a line out the door.

Copperline is in the back of a convenience store at 409 Broadway in Chicopee.  You can enter through the front or on the side.  There is a parking lot on the right side (if facing the building) and there is additional parking on the street.  Copperline is seat yourself, and all tables are booths.

On a recent trip for dinner my Fiance and I got a full carafe of wine ($7, though some varieties are less expensive), a bowl of clam chowder, chicken quesadillas, a buffalo chicken salad and a cranberry walnut chicken salad.  The bill was somewhere around $25.  Cheap date!

PROs: Price, Portions, Keno

CONs: Service is a bit slow sometimes, packed on Sunday mornings, only open for dinner Thursdays and Fridays til 7:30pm.

Wine ($7!)

Clam Chowder

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Quesadilla

Have you been to Copperline?  Love or hate?