A restaurant? Junk Shop? Attic? You decide
Written: Oct 16 '00 (Updated Nov 21 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The attention paid to the decor does not take away from attention to the food.
Cons: The staff isn't the speediest, but there's so much to do while you wait you won't care.
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| etain's Full Review: Pennsylvania |
Review Topic: Restaurants
Lurking in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, a small town along Route 6, tucked onto a storefront on main street, is a small establishment calling itself "The Endless Mountain Pretzel Company." I stopped in for lunch on a road trip, wanting something other than the chain of burgers-fried stuff-meat-and-potatoes that I had been having up to that point, and when I saw a sample menu that seemed to have a lot of creative light salad-y fare, I stopped in.
It is a restaurant. I feel the need to stress that because it does not look anything LIKE a restaurant when you first walk in; it looks more like a junk shop. The walls and ceiling are festooned with folk art objects, antique chairs, vintage dresses, kites, baskets, tin lanterns, old toys, a canoe, and the like; all of which, the menu points out, is for sale. Also occasionally on the wall you will see signs printed on paper that I presume were made up by the staff; one that still has me scratching my head read, "Okay, so what's the speed of dark?"
The funkiness carries over to the tables; every table has a theme to it. One table, as are the chairs around it, is actually a piece of inflatable furniture. There is a "science" table, made up out of a refurbished anaesthesia machine, and copies of the periodic table of elements are affixed to the top. There is a "cow" table, with cow-shaped salt and pepper shakers, and placemats and tablecloths with herds of cattle on them. I sat at what I presume is an "art" table; the surface was actually a write-on/wipe-off marker board, and a box of crayons and magic markers and a stack of puzzle books sat next to the salt and pepper shakers. Even the restrooms are entertaining; the mens' and ladies' rooms are designated with "Elton" on one door and "Olivia-Newton" on the other, and yet more signs and artwork are inside.
And the food is good too; not exactly dirt cheap, but good for a healthy lunch. I had a big and very nice "Mexican Caesar Salad" for $6, which came in a tostada shell and had grilled chicken that had been marinated in Mexican spices. There's a coffee bar at the front, but I instead went for lemonade (which came freshly squeezed with a slice of lemon floating in it for an extra kick).
The place also has live music on some evenings, and a portion of all of its proceeds are donated to charitable causes. This was one of those serindipitous little places you stumble over on your travels, and I was almost reluctant to mention it; but this is a place that should stay open.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
etain
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 1 member
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