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!

Sakura Sushi Buffet

CHICKPEAS: 4

We both love sushi and were delighted to hear about an all you can eat sushi buffet in Northampton.  We have gone probably 5 or so times in the last two months.   Sakura is currently running a special through the rest of the year.

The deal:
All you can eat lunch or dinner: $9.99 (dinner is normally $15.99)
Happy Hour from 2:30-4:30pm: $6.99

Now, we aren't people who frequent buffets on a regular basis, but we feel that we need to take full advantage of their current special!  Sakura has an assortment of traditional Chinese dishes including fried rice, lo mien, spare ribs, crab rangoon, and more for those who don't like sushi.  Additionally, there are some Japanese dishes that I won't try to name.  They have a few soups, a selection of fresh fruit, and some desserts.  The Chinese dishes are less greasy than I would expect at a buffet and are in general pretty good.  The sushi is good.  I usually get some maki and a lot of nigiri.  I will say that the sushi has less fish in it than you would find at an upscale sushi restaurant, and I believe even less during the happy hour.  Additionally, we recommend filling up on dinner because the desserts are lacking (although there is a soft serve machine if you like ice cream).  Still, we believe it is a good value and as mentioned we continue to go back for more!

Here are some plates from various trips:

Tunnel Bar

CHICKPEAS: 4

Grasshopper Martini

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the Tunnel Bar in Northampton with friends.  The Tunnel Bar is known for their martinis and gets its name from actually being in a tunnel.   As you walk in on the street end, there are sets of tables and armchairs on both sides.  The bar is about halfway down the tunnel, complete with stools. The clientele varied in age, though mostly in the late 20's or older range.  If you are claustrophobic, this bar might not be a good choice.  Otherwise, it has tons of character and is a fun spot.

It can be a little tough to find free parking in Northampton on a weekend night, but there are pay lots available. We got there around 8:30 and were able to get a table and two chairs for our party of four.  We watched like vultures and eventually got a table and four chairs.  I would recommend getting their early if you are with a big group and want to be able to sit.