Offbeat Eats

(Closed) Coming back from a hike in the White Mountains, Carol and I were both craving a hearty dinner, so we decided to swing back home via the Lakes Region (note that travel between the White Mountains and Grantham is a classic case of “can’t get there from here”, since the roads all go perpendicular to that route). From my few previous trips out there, I recalled that the New Hampton and Meredith area had a few decent-looking restaurants, so we decided to swing down that way. Sure enough, we happened upon Bobby’s Girl Diner, a classic Worcester Diner Car (with a large dining room added on to the back), and decided to stop there (later we came across Hart’s Turkey Farm, which is what I had been thinking of, so we’ll try that place next time). We both had the open face turkey sandwich with cole slaw, which was quite generous, with nice, chunky skin-on mashed potatoes, the turkey of reasonable quality, sliced from a whole breast, and the bread was nicely toasted. Overall, a nice way to round out a day of hiking in the mountains.

Anyone that has had breakfast with me knows that I’m a pancake aficionado. I’m very particular about my pancakes (they must have the right flavor, texture, crust, and toppings), and if I find a proper pancake I’ll go way out of my way for them. Which brings us to Polly’s Pancake Parlor, where we went on Saturday. We make it a point to go at least once a year, usually combining it with hiking in the White Mountains. Located in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire (about 20 minutes from Franconia Notch), Polly’s is a modestly-sized pancake dining room attached to an old sugarhouse (in which they make their own maple products). Sure, New Hampshire and Vermont, especially during mapling season, are chock full of sugarhouses and pancake joints. But, in my not-so-humble opinion, Polly’s is the queen of New England pancake joints, and forever tied for first place on my list with Al’s Breakfast of Minneapolis for Best Pancake Ever and Best Breakfast Ever.

(Closed) Since I live in Grantham, if I feel the need to duck out for a quick bite, it’s often easier to drive down to Newport, NH than the Upper Valley proper, since (a) it’s closer (9 miles vs 16 miles), and (b) there are actually some interesting places to eat in Newport. Indeed, among other places, it sports a good (and reasonably authentic) Mexican place (the oddly-named Lil’ Red Baron, which for some items I prefer it to Gusanoz), a pretty good tavern (Eagle Tavern), and a drive-in complete with carhops. I’ll focus on the last one for this review (since I ate there today).