Homeport Restaurant

Homeport Restaurant

August 17th Pt.2

Address: Friend's Marketplace, 55 Main St, Orleans, MA 02653

After we left the Brewster Coffee Shop last week as a result of the significant wait time to be noticed, we headed over to Homeport Restaurant to see if we could have better luck there.

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

• Conveniently located a short drive past Brewster Coffee Shop.
• The parking is abundant, as the restaurant is located within a marketplace plaza.

2. Wait time to be greeted, seated, and atmosphere.

• There were others waiting to eat, we were able to go inside where hostess was located immediately within the doors. She took a name and we went back outside to wait.
• It was a hot morning baking in the sun while we waiting to go inside, we were all thinking of only the breakfasts that awaited us. We were now almost an hour behind breakfast schedule, and it was beginning to look like brunch.
• Homeport is a small location, with large wooden circular tables. It is a very tight fit. The tables are tall enough that the lady feels like a little kid when sitting at them.

3. Server introductions, impressions and attentiveness.

• The waitress arrived within a minute of us being seated and took our drink orders.
• Food and drink arrived in acceptable time.
• Only complaint would be lack of refills on coffee. The request for more went through the hostess/bus girl.

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

• The menu for breakfast is a decent size, two pages if items to choose from
• There is the option of gluten free bread or English muffins for $2.75

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• What we would like to call out as a highlight of this menu is the fact that the combos here make sense. Often times if you are looking for eggs, meat, and pancakes you need to have something added on as a side. Here, the options are simply there to have it all included for a reasonable price.

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

• The wait time was just right for the food we ordered. We were all anticipating devouring our meals when they arrived to our table.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee was fine. Wished it was refilled more quickly.
• The Gentleman had Noah’s Two by Two. An incredibly priced combination of all the proper goodies. Two deliciously sweet pancakes, two eggs any way, either bacon, ham or sausage, a side of toast and home fries. The pancakes were some of the best the gent has tasted so far.  Outdoing even the spots with the word pancake in the title. Eggs were cooked that way he wanted them and he ate them atop the included white toast. The home fries were a fine side but not something he’d order extra if they weren’t already included.  The bacon was the disappointment; three slices is a fine portion for this size and price of plate, however, it was flat and appeared way too store bought.

• The Lady ordered a One by One, which is the same as a Two by Two only divided in half. One pancake, one egg, two pieces of bacon, homefries and one piece of toast. She asked for no toast, there was enough bread in the pancake, at which point the gentleman spoke up and said he would have the extra slice. The pancake was a tad salty, and most certainly was made of a pre-packaged mix. The bacon was tiny, flat, and a bit plain. The egg was cooked over easy, and the homefries were there. After the wait endured through the first disappointment earlier, this breakfast was delicious and satisfying.

8. Value of product.

• Our party of three (the gent’s wife accompanied) paid $38 total after tax and tip. Not bad at all for three decent sized plates and coffees.

9. Payment options.

• All payments accepted. Strange credit system - one must tell server the amount of gratuity to add to bill before credit processing.

Overall Rating: Breakfast in America - SuperTramp

Brewster Coffee Shop

 Brewster Coffee Shop

 
Address: 2149 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631

 

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

• The Brewster Coffee Shop is located on Route 6A in the middle of Brewster.
• We didn’t have any problem finding space to park although we overheard others with some complaints.
• They are located across from Brewster Town Hall.

2. Wait time to be greeted, seated, and atmosphere.

• We stood around searching for some direction as to what to do - seat ourselves, or wait to be seated. It was not until we ventured inside and stood around looking confused before we were approached and asked if we had been helped. We had not been. Estimated wait time to be greeted is around 8 - 10 minutes.
• Once we were noticed, we were told there were seats inside (there were not) or outside, on the communal picnic tables. The lady isn’t too keen on sharing a table with strangers unless she is anticipating this to be part of the dining experience before hand.
• It felt very cramped on the inside, and too stranger sharey on the outside.

3. Server introductions, impressions and attentiveness.

• We waited and waited and nobody came to our side of the picnic table. At one point a lady delivered coffee and waters to the two guests on the other side of our communal table but there was no greeting or acknowledgement of our existence.
• I expect if we would still be waiting for service had we not left. That’s right, we left.

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

• There were two pages of menu items, ranging from eggs with meat, to pancakes, benedicts and french toast.                   

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• The menu was typical. There were no items on there that we have not seen at every location we have been There were no menu items that stood out as being unusual or as their claim to fame.

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

• If our wait to be seated and greeted was any indication of what our wait for food would have been like, I anticipate that we would be making this a dinner review and not one of breakfast.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee is good to drink when it is provided to you
• The Gentleman had nothing. His choice was to leave. The ATM had taken a $2.95 fee. The sun had taken his energy. The staff had taken his time. So he took his new crispy cash and left.
• The Lady wasn’t sure what she would have eaten here if they had made it past the 20 minute mark.

8. Value of product.

• How much do you value your time? That’s how we would begin to gauge this restaurant. If you enjoy sitting down in the sun, thirsty, expecting that a young kid in a blue shirt and khaki shorts will help you - and are satisfied when that moment never comes - then this is the place for you.

9. Payment options.

• Cash only.

Overall Rating: The philosophy here must have been in line with Prince - “Breakfast Can Wait”

The Keltic Kitchen

The Keltic Kitchen

Address: 415 MA-28, West Yarmouth, MA 02673 

 Website: Keltic Kitchen

Sand Sculptures are a yearly event on Cape Cod. (See link)

This year Keltic Kitchen chose to depict the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in 1916

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

• Parking for the Keltic Kitchen is off of the main street Route 28.
• Once all the painted line parking areas are occupied people tend to make their own spots.

2. Wait time to be greeted, seated, and atmosphere.

• This is our first encounter with a long wait. We were asked for our party size and a name, and advised that the wait would be 15-20 minutes. We were assured no longer than 20. They were right, we did not wait longer than 20.
• Once it was our turn, we were directed to our seats right at the very back.
• The restaurant provides wooden chairs and booths inside , as well as an exterior porch area with plastic chairs. The lady selected the expansive booth side of the table so she could spread out. The gentleman and his wife sat in wooden chairs.
• The restaurant is decorated with Irish memorabilia and pictures. There is a very old pub feel to the location.

3. Server introductions, impressions and attentiveness.

• Our waitress arrived promptly and quickly established we wanted coffee.
• She was very attentive and patient. Our coffee cups were never empty.
• She complimented the gent on his appearance. Thanks Evie, you’re the best.

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

• So many options. Irish everything to American fare.
• The specials showcased items directed to the sweet tooth with Carrot Cake pancakes, Stuffed French Toast, Waffleandwich.
• There were plates coming out of the kitchen piled high with delicious looking food inviting us to try them the next visit.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• Irish Farmhouse Breakfast
• Irish Fry
• Black and White pudding.
• The entire specials menu is uncommon in itself. This menu is changed often, and always has exciting things to try.

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

 

• There was a wee bit of a mix up upon food delivery. Some of the lady’s meal was on the plate of the gentleman’s wife, and vice versa. This was rectified with speed and a flurry of apologies. The ladies would have been fine fixing it themselves, however they were insistent on correcting it themselves.
• If only we could share the aroma through some form of internet sniffer. We feel as though you too would have been salivating from the scents that wafted to our noses when our meals arrived.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee. The coffee at the Keltic Kitchen is tasty. They serve it with the option of standard cream, or little Irish Creamers. If only we’d had some Baileys we would have been set!
• The gentleman needs a nap. There were so many items included with his Irish Fry. Two eggs (over medium), two rashers, two sausage, black and white pudding, baked beans and brown bread all fit on one plate. It was all delicious. It was difficult to choose a consumption system. Where to start and where to finish? There was not a weak selection on the plate. He started with the black pudding (don’t tell him how it’s made!) and finished with the last piece of buttered, brown bread. This was not the first time at the Keltic Kitchen for the gent, the lady, or the gents wife. The gent has likely visited at least 25 times, mostly often ordering the 2x4 meal to satisfy his pancake fix. Those babies are huge. They can be ordered with chocolate chips or any berry, and, according to the special sheet, as carrot cake with cream cheese glaze or rocky road with marshmallows and graham crackers. Next time perhaps.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The lady was originally going to order the Irish Fry, however, the gentleman also had his sights on this. It was resolved when the specials menu option of Waffleandwich unfortunately had no waffles for the gentleman, so he went with Irish Fry. The lady had a backup plan ready and chose the Guinness Bratwurst & Eggs, with beans instead of homefries and homemade brown bread. The first bite of the sausage was reminiscent of taking a big gulp of Guinness that has been served at the appropriate temperature (it is not supposed to be cold, peoples!), plus meat flavour. As those of you who have ever had Guinness stew would know, meat and Guinness were two flavours that were made for eachother. The homemade brown bread was perfectly dense and soft on the inside, with a firm crust around it. The beans were tomato style. The eggs were exactly as they should have been, over-easy. The lady stuffed her stomach until even her face was full. This is the type of meal that keeps you satisfied for the rest of the day.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The gentleman’s wife was fortunately able to join us. She enjoyed the Wild Boar Sausage with scrambled eggs and home fries. It was sweet and tangy thanks to the red wine and cranberry seasoning.  
  
  
  

8. Value of product.

• The prices at Keltic Kitchen are on point. The prices are not overly expensive, and the quality of product you receive is well worth every penny.
• Coffee $1.99
• Side of bacon $3.29
• 2 eggs and meat $6.79
• Muffins $1.99

9. Payment options.

• All of them.

Overall Rating: Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O’Connor

The owners of the Keltic Kitchen show they are proud of their Irish heritage, and want to share things they love with others. With great food and service it’s no wonder why there was a wait to get eating. While we waited to be seated, and for our food, our conversation was healthy and the atmosphere kept our attention. When the food arrived we shut up and ate, only taking a break to nod in approval of the food smacking between our jaws. 

The Keltic Kitchen also has it's own gift shop. They sell anything from t-shirts to Irish food stuffs. This is the only location the lady has found on Cape Cod that sells Aero bars and Smarties (the Canadian type, not the American kind). We all know where she will be shopping for her treats!