Offbeat Eats

(Closed) Well, until the Farmers Diner opens next month, the list of Diners I haven’t reviewed has grown mighty short, so I figured I’d write up some diners that aren’t exactly local, but you might happen across in your travels. So, traveling down I-91, in Bellows Falls there is the Miss Bellows Falls Diner on 90 Rockingham Street (right in downtown). Miss Bellows Falls (MBF) is actually a fairly notable diner in that (a) it’s an almost completely intact Worcestor Diner Car (#771) n faithfully maintained condition , and (b) it’s on the National Register of Historic Places (and, like all the other diners on the Register, claims it’s the only one…). But, in addition to just the architectural and historical interest, it’s also a pretty good place to eat.

(Closed) Since I’ve basically exhausted the list of Diners in the Upper Valley, I figured I should review some of the other breakfast joints. I’ll start with one of my favorites: Dana’s by the Gorge in Quechee, VT (umm, by the gorge…). Anyone who regularly dines with me knows that my favorite breakfast items are, roughly in order, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and waffles. So usually when I’m visiting a place for the first time I’ll have one of these three items. However, Dana’s was different, since one menu item jumped out at me: the Vermont Rarebit (pictured at right). It’s basically an eggs Benedict dish, with the hollandaise sauce replaced with a Welsh-rarebit style cheddar sauce. Very delicious, and I seem to order this 90% of the time I’m there. And, in season, I visit there often enough that they are starting to recognize me.