Dined Monday July 28th

Ann & Fran's Kitchen

471 Route 28, West Yarmouth, MA 02673

1. Initial impression of convenience, parking, and location.

• Another main street location. Highly congested area with tourist traffic. Parking was available as we traveled through one of the two available entrances, one off of the main st and one off of the side street.
• Upon arriving we witnessed two damaged vehicles and their owners exchanging insurance information. (Image of accident not shown below. This is just the parking lot. Sorry to disappoint)

2. Wait time to be greeted, seated, and first impressions of staff.

• This is the first location we have been to where we actually encountered a wait time. We were greeted immediately and asked for our names and provided with the wait time for a table.
• The waitress that greeted us offered coffee and provided us with menus. Moments later she returned and asked for our orders. She seemed impatient to get on with order taking as though she had something better to do.

3. Type of seating, comfort, wait time for server introduction.

• The arrangement of tables and chairs wouldn't be described as spacious. We were sat at a two top near the front window. Our backs inches away from the counter seats or another table. By the way there is a counter. The server will tell you to move if you didn't respectfully make room for at least a party of two on either side of you.
• It wasn't long after seating that the server presented us with coffee. Both staff members that welcomed us have been on this earth as well as in this restaurant for quite some time.

4. Variety of menu options (too many/too little)

• The menu was standard for breakfast fare. It was not risqué and provided no exciting options.
• Of course, holding true to past experiences, "everything" on the menu was delicious according to the server.

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• No uncommon items of note.

6. Speed of food delivery, and first impressions of plating, initial aroma.

• The food was delivered after an appropriate wait time. It was not too long considering the fact that we arrived at what seemed to be a busy time of morning.
• Not a "wow" of a plating. Both dishes looked like home cooked breakfast.
• If we were to go off of initial aromas of the restaurant, the lady sensed something in the parking lot that was foul.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee. The coffee only needed on creamer which is always a sure indication that it is watery. This held true for the coffee here. It was not terrible, the flavour was simply lacking.
• The gentleman's 2x4 of two eggs, two bacon(s), two sausages, two pancakes was accompanied by white toast for egg dripping soppage. Again the pancakes surprised! They were so dense they slurped up the table syrup without asking twice. So much sweetness and them cakes still stayed fluffy. The bacon tasted freshly cooked and the sausages were tasty. The texture of the toast was not to my tastes. The bread was too porous and the crust was stale-like; hard but uncuttable.

• The lady's two egg with meat was nothing special, but it was still filling and edible. The linguica was not cooked quite as much as one might hope and was still a tad cool, and yet at the same time it managed to be burnt around the edges. Again, the rye bread was not spectacular, with a super hard chewy crust and soft innards that became mush with the butter on it. The home fries were almost like eating pure salt, however they had a delicious crunch with a soft pillowed interior. This meal was very conflicting, with delicious aspects, and confusing grossness.

8. Value of product.

• The price differences at this location were strange. The Two by Four (Two eggs, Two meats, two pancakes) was less than a two egg with meat, yet provided more food. Most things were higher in cost than one might expect.
• Coffee $1.75 per bottomless cup
• Side of bacon $3.59
• 2 eggs and choice of meat $6.29
• Muffins $1.89

9. Payment options.

• Cash
• MC/ Visa

Overall Rating: 7/10

Overall:

Ann & Fran's Kitchen was not a bad breakfast. It was not spectacular, however it is a location that we would go to again. The 'charming' decorations indicating that the restaurant "is not burger king and you cannot have it your way" show that substitutions are not welcome here. It may be safer just to eat what they suggest, however, they don't provide suggestions.

On a side note, thanks to the fellow sitting behind me I now know all of the businesses at Mashpee commons in alphabetical order.

Dined Monday July 21

The Wee Packet

79 Depot St, Dennis Port, MA 02639

Website: The Wee Packet

1. Initial impression of convenience, parking, and location.

• Located on the corner of a 4 way intersection this location is easy to get to but parking is tight. Three spots are perpendicular to the road and the rest are found down a side lot for diagonal parking.
• We liked the initial smells while outside of the building. As we walked toward the entrance the pleasant smell became a burnt toast smell. We continued in and forgot about it until writing this.

2. Wait time to be greeted, seated, and first impressions of staff.

• When we entered the front doors into the enclosed porch area we were greeted after we had a chance to have a 360. The waitress that greeted us was friendly, after asking for the number in our party, she took a moment to consider, and then risked leading us into the dining room although it seemed that she was not sure if there would actually be a spot for us to sit.

3. Type of seating, comfort, wait time for server introduction.

• We sat in a booth fit for two. The seat cushion was fitted with anchor designed fabric. One of the many tells this place liked the ocean.
• They were comfortable enough.
• We are still waiting for a server introduction. Show me three faces and I'll tell you they were all my server.

4. Variety of menu options (too many/too little)

• There were four separate pages for menu options to choose from, which did increase the standard ordering time. The first round the waitress took to ask for our order she had to be turned away for more time to decide.

• There is an issue that continues to gnaw at us is during menu consideration and server interaction. As we are new to many of these restaurants we request recommendations on the menu. Perhaps there is something unique or a dish that they prepare differently. Too often we receive a response of "everything is delicious." This isn't cute. When a server tells me this, it means that they have not eaten here, have no experience in what is popular, or in fact nothing is good. Please educate yourself on the menu. It may be just breakfast but you need to set yourself apart to win favour.

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• Potent Potables….Morning Mimosa, Bloody Mary, Mary & Her Three Sista’s
• Wee Packet Parfait
• Wee Packet Fry
• Full Irish Breakfast
• Portuguese Sweet Bread French Toast/Sandwich

6. Speed of food delivery, and first impressions of plating, initial aroma.

• Appropriately timed. Not too long or too short.
• Food items were placed on plates that fit their size.
• Didn't smell burned.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee. The coffee was standard fare, nothing special. It was not watery, nor was it burned, but, it did not have a flavour that would have me craving more.
• The gentleman had pancakes, baked beans, and Irish sausage. He ordered ala carte because he wanted pancakes, more than two, and no combo would do. They looked heavy but were of a medium weight. I recommend adding syrup. The table syrup was fine but for those fussy faces they do offer Vermont maple syrup for around $3. I'm 90% sure the baked beans were canned. The sausages had a skin that peeled off when I sliced it. Seemed legit. Tasted sweeter than other sausages.

• The lady's breakfast choice this day was her usual breakfast choice of two eggs with meat. The meat choice was Irish Sausage, which I must say was pretty well exactly the same as normal sausage. I’m still pondering what the difference could be. The eggs were cooked over easy as usual. The home fries were a tad on the salty side, but the overall flavour was pleasant. The rye toast was not distinguishable as being rye, the flavour was very mild. Rye is a bread that should punch you in the mouth with flavour. The wonderful treat to this meal which was an added bonus was the tomato. Roasted tomatoes reminds me of breakfast at my mother and step-fathers. The added bonus of a memory to go along with my meal improved my overall opinion of the breakfast. The tomato was warm and delicious, and the texture was wonderful as I slurped it into my mouth. Yum yum!

8. Value of product.

• The cost of the breakfast here was not overly expensive, but it was a few dollars more than other locations we have been to previously. Overall, the food quality was not bad, so we will deem the price to be acceptable.
• Coffee $1.99 per bottomless cup
• Side of bacon $2.50
• 2 eggs and choice of meat $7.25
• Muffins $1.99

9. Payment options.

• Cash
• Visa/MC

Overall Rating: 7 /10

Overall:

The restaurant itself had a lot of decorum which was not tacky, but very much of the Cape Cod manner of items, such as whale carvings, ship bells, seashells, fish, and other nautical items. The food was served warm, the plates were full but not overflowing, and the atmosphere was pleasant. This is a good choice if you are nearby. There is also a gift shop located in a restored barn in the back, so if you are just visiting The Cape, you can have breakfast and do your souvenir shopping all in the same spot. As this is a seasonal location, the help is also seasonal and therefore they do not truly get a sense of what they are serving, or who they are serving it to.

They also sell hoodies!

Another Week Off

This week Aaron went on vacation, and therefore no restaurant is being reviewed.

Out of the eight locations we have visited thus far, Ruggie's, Route 28 Diner and The Underground Bakery have won out on overall experience.

Ruggie's had excellent food and a pleasant atmosphere, as well as staff.

Route 28 Diner was a place "where everyone knows your name"

The Underground Bakery was a very unique experience, and well worth the visit!

As there will be no restaurant today, here is an overview of our reviews for your viewing pleasure!

May 12th: Pancake Man 5/10

Only a good option if close by or other options are closed or too busy. Note, alcohol is served on premises for next day hair of the dog hangover cure. The food here was not pleasant, and it would almost be worth skipping breakfast if this is your only choice.

May 19th: Piccadilly Deli and Cafe 7.5/10

The Piccadilly Deli and Cafe did not disappoint when it came down to what really mattered: the food. While there was nothing good to say about the coffee (the head cook was drinking Dunkin' Donuts himself), the options to muster and the tastes to devour won us over. We would return to try something else from their menus.

May 26th: Ruggie's 8.5/10

Ruggie's has been the most pleasant breakfast experience on Cape thus far. Proving why it was voted Best Cape Cod Breakfast in 2012 by Yankee Magazine. There was not a part of the meals that left something to be desired. The parking and seat allotments do make this a difficult option if it is a busy day, so plan for that and arrive early.

June 2nd: Route 28 Diner 8.5/10

In a previous review we stated profoundly that taste was, above all, the most important part of our breakfast. We do not plan on altering that opinion but would like to amend it. In no world would we continue to eat at a place that served bad food. Although Route 28 Diner's food did not make us moan in delight after every bite, the diner, value and, most of all, its people are enough to entice a return visit. They will probably even remember our faces.

June 9th: South Street Depot 4.5/10

The new owners also own a popular seafood restaurant located nearby. This information lead to expectations that the prices would be high and the food decent. At least we were half right.

June 23rd: Sailing Cow Cafe 6/10

The fact that we had attempted to dine at this location once before and discovered that it was not actually open (although their website and Facebook page indicated we could dine there beginning Memorial Day) should have been taken as foreshadowing for how the breakfast would play out. The menu options available were disappointing, the food was sub-par aside from the pancakes and home-fries, and the wait staff charged with removing dishes were oppressive. There were parts of this meal that were enjoyable, however overall it is not a location that we will return to unless we are in the area and our cars break down.

June 30th: The Daily Paper 8/10

The Daily Paper won ‘Best Breakfast’ for the Best of Cape Cod 2014 in Cape Cod Magazine. It also won a Silver in Cape Cod Times in 2013 and 2014. With these accomplishments, you would expect a 10/10, however, the impersonal wait staff that served us, the lackluster home fries and bacon bring our rating down.

July 7th: Underground Bakery - High Recommendations

Due to the fact that this was not a standard sit down restaurant, with typical seating and service, we felt as though it could not be compared to previous experiences with an "out of ten" rating. We do think this location deserves a referral as an excellent place to go.

Its a small space down some narrow wooden stairs. Once inside, the chalk board menu awaits you, hanging from the coffee bean, burlap sac covered ceilings. The staff that greets, takes your order and also assists in its creation.

If you are just looking for a coffee, some baked goods, or a loaf of bread, etc., put the Underground on your list. It is on the way to the beach so take your sandwich to go. What goes together better than hot sun, surf and a cup of joe?

Dined Monday July 7th

Underground Bakery

780 Main St Rt. 6A, Dennis, MA 02638

Website: Underground Bakery

1. Initial impression of convenience, parking, and location.

• The entrance to the parking area is a toughie due to its location within a congested commercial section of Route 6A. The placement of the bakery is set back past the local post office.
• Parking isn't straightforward. Its diagonal.
• The bakery is underground, er, basement level, but still unique.

2. Wait time to be greeted, seated, and first impressions of staff.

• The line at the counter was only a few deep, and therefore it was a short wait to be greeted after we helped ourselves to coffee of our choice. As it is a bakery, there are also many coffee flavours ‘on tap’ to choose from.
• The staff was friendly, and managed the droves of people constantly passing through the doors well. Although there was always a line, they tended to it in such a way that it never became unmanageable.

3. Type of seating, comfort, wait time for server introduction.

• The seating at the underground bakery is first come first serve There were four tables inside and around the same amount outside, If you show up at the wrong time, you will not get to sit. The seats are a mix of random chairs and tables, not necessarily matching, and yet they do in their own special way. The comfort was that of any wooden chairs are.
• We were served by the cashier, there is no table side service at Underground bakery, you simply line up and order off of the chalk board.

4. Variety of menu options (too many/too little)

• We would say there were many menu options for all palates and diets.
• Typical eggs and bacon breakfast to vegan wraps.
• Of course they served as a bakery as well making lemon squares, cookies, coconut bars, muffins, biscotti and even dog biscuits.

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• Juice (blended varieties of fresh juice drinks) eg kale, carrots, or beets.
• Smoothies (Chunky Monkey say what!)
• All Natural fountain pop (or soda as they say here)
• Vegan choices
• Wedding cakes

6. Speed of food delivery, and first impressions of plating, initial aroma.

• The food was ready surprisingly quickly considering there was only one woman behind the counter preparing it. Once it was ready, she called out the order for you to "Come and get it”
• The plates were little paper serving apparatus that a lobster roll would normally be served in, thus cutting down on the need to wash dishes, although there was no recycling to be found.
• The scents of the breakfast wraps were appealing, and we anticipated the delicious flavours that awaited us.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee. The lady had the mocha java flavour of coffee, which has a nice medium roast with a subtle and delicious flavour profile. The gent tried the Cuban espresso. He takes it black and can never distinguish flavours anyhow. It didn't taste like the house blend he refilled his cup with later for only a dollar. Both were tasty and 40oz of caffeine later he is without the fidgets.

• The gentleman's farmhouse wrap was chosen after slight hesitation between that and the choice of the fiesta wrap. The ingredients of the farmhouse were too homey to turn down. It had been enjoyed in the past as the gentleman and his fiancée frequent the Underground occasionally. It was nice to introduce new places to friends.

• The lady went totally off the standard over easy with meat today, and had a farmhouse wrap. The conversations in the car to the bakery had the lady reminiscing about unobtainable pitas, and therefore having a wrap was the closest thing. It consisted of scrambled egg, turkey, home fries, swiss cheese, bacon, and chipotle sauce. When the farmhouse wrap arrived, there was a moment of hesitation, due to the size of said wrap. This thing was a beast. As is standard with most wraps, you never get a mix of everything in one bite. One bite contained egg, one potato, and one turkey with some chipotle sauce. It must be impossible to have each bite filled with a taste of all. There was the option of putting sriracha on your meal, which, in hindsight would have taken it to the next stop in flavour town, and it would have rocked my mouth party;

8. Value of product.

• Due to the fact that this location makes most items themselves, with organic fair-trade ingredients, as you might expect the prices are a little higher than even a sit down restaurant, however in this case it is still worth it.
• Coffee was charged based on cup size, with the option of $1 to refill your cup.
• Side of bacon $ N/A
• 2 eggs and toast $4.00
• Muffins baked fresh daily and the options vary. Pricing was not noticed.

9. Payment options.

• Cash
• MC/Visa/Amex?

Overall Rating:

Due to the fact that this was not a standard sit down restaurant, with typical seating and service, we felt as though it could not be compared to previous experiences with an "out of ten" rating. We do think this location deserves a referral as an excellent place to go.

Its a small space down some narrow wooden stairs. Once inside, the chalk board menu awaits you, hanging from the coffee bean, burlap sac covered ceilings. The staff that greets, takes your order and also assists in its creation.

If you are just looking for a coffee, some baked goods, or a loaf of bread, etc., put the Underground on your list. It is on the way to the beach so take your sandwich to go. What goes together better than hot sun, surf and a cup of joe?