Memorial Day Special. May 26th 2014

Ruggie's

Review by Aaron Kimmel and Carissa Hayes

Address: 707 Main St. Harwich MA 02645

Website: Ruggie's

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

• Establishment is located on Main Street, therefore parking leaves a bit to be desired. The locations to park are on the actual street itself, so on a busy day you will be S.O.L.  If you feel like off-roading there is also a dirt lot located at the rear.
• The restaurant itself is very quaint. Two bay windows on either side of the doors provide you with a great view of the main street going-ons as you enjoy your meal.

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

• This breakfast occasion was slightly different as two more breakfasters were present. The gentleman's fiancée and he arrived early and were pleasantly greeted by three members of the staff standing behind the large counter. We mentioned we were to be a party of four and they promptly went about preparing a table for us.
• Positive marks for seating us in advance of the whole party arriving.

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

• A large counter made up half of the restaurant, serving as the hub.
• There were only 8 or 9 tables of either two or four tops. It is possible that a wait could occur at any moment.
• We sat at a four top situated in the bay window alcove looking onto the sidewalk. The temperature slowly rose to a noticeable heat. I would argue it was the hot coffee raising the degrees but I'm sure it was their system misbehaving.

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

• Breakfast and lunch are served here. Per yuje the focus was solely on the breakyfast.  
• On top of customary breakfast offerings please see below for non traditional offerings expanding the menu.

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• "The Breakfast Sandwich Challenge" called "The Duke" this is a 30 minute timed breakfast endeavour in which you must eat the entire plate provided.

• The Melting Pots. These are items of international backgrounds.

• Chicken and Waffles
• Breakfast "lasagna"
• Breakfast "nachos"

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

• The chef's offerings were delivered in a reasonable amount of time. The wait was substantial enough that you could be assured that great time and care was going into each dish.
• When it was delivered, the sights and aromas of the meal provided an excitement at the table that was noticeable. The air was electric with anticipation.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee. Delicious. Plentiful bounty of glorious nectar. One might say it was "Boston's Best".
• The Gentleman ordered the uncommon breakfast lasagna per the servers enthusiasm for it. The choice had been between the chicken and waffles or the lasagna. Coming down to the wire after everyone at the table had ordered, the servers recommendation was taken. Maybe that ricotta cheese makes everything taste like lasagna but substituting pasta for omelette style eggs made little difference to the dish. It was enjoyed like every other pasta dish. For that reason, although fine in taste, in hindsight the idea of chicken and waffles was still tempting. Another time perhaps. Oh shucks.

• The gentleman's fiancée tried the breakfast nachos. Her appreciation of the meal was so high she presented an oral blog after each bite. The two fiancé(e)'s may be keen to start writing reviews of eating amongst their lady and gent.

• The Lady's two egg and meat with rye toast was a mouth party that you need to experience. One of the meats available was polish kielbasa, which just so happens to be The Lady's favourite. It arrived at the table with an aroma of glorious seared perfection. The sear on the outside was golden, and provided the perfect resistance to your bite. The eggs were over easy however a tad overdone. The rye toast was buttered well. Overall, the meal was exquisite. An explosion of deliciousness.

• The lady's fiancé ordered Apple Crisp French Toast which came dressed with whipped cream. Initial impressions were good with an excellent fragrance of spiced apple. The whipped cream was mountainous and the perfect replacement for the piled whipped butter that is the norm. The French toast was just the right consistency and the apple topping created a much better experience than French Toasts had in the past. Not opting for the 100% maple syrup wasn't an issue as the dish was great on its own.

8. Value of product.

• Excellent value at this location. The taste vs cost ratio is on par for what a good restaurant should be.
• Coffee $1.87 per bottomless cup
• Side of bacon $3.00
• 2 eggs and choice of meat $5.95
• Muffins $2.25

9. Payment options.

• Cash
• MC, Visa

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Good: 

Delectable. If you want an exceptional breakfast for a good price, Ruggie's is a great place to provide that to you. The staff treated us as familiar faces instead of ruffians.

Bad: 

Although the bay style windows provided an enjoyable view, the temperature increased over the course of the meal. Near the end, it was hot and humid. However, that did not prevent one final cup of Boston's Best.

Overall: 
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.

Dined Monday, May 19th 2014

Piccadilly Café and Deli

Review by Aaron Kimmel and Carissa Hayes

1105 Route 28, South Yarmouth, Ma 02664

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

• The parking was a bit tedious. To establish a lay of the land we drove twice around the building as the only painted spaces were few directly in front.
• The parking spaces were so few that we questioned the location of a couple parked vehicles. One dumper of a car sat with its passenger side nudged perpendicular to a median that separated the parking lot and the main road. One would say it was "in the way".
• The location is right on the main road and close to traffic lights and multiple entrances and exits of other commercial lots. Navigating safely was a concern.

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

• Wait time was minimal. We were greeted within moments of entering and advised to take a seat anywhere. The cashier/ hostess did not make eye contact when directing us to be seated, instead, looked above us at the ceiling. In her defense the ceiling did have character.

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

• The seats were metal backed with vinyl foam cushions. One chair had once been subject to someone's gum, which was then scraped off leaving behind black gum residue.
• Minimal wait time for server, who offered coffee to start, however on her second visit to the table seemed irritated that no choices for breakfast had yet been established.

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

• On the main two fold menu the breakfast options were relegated to one page on the back. Inside were the variety of lunch options that we had no interest in.

• Although the breakfast was on 1/6th of the menu there was an additional laminated Eggs Benedict menu. As well, there was a table card listing more breakfast options.

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• Boneless BBQ Pork Ribs
• Large variety of eggs Benedict
• Irish Soda Bread
• "The Gobbler"

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

• Food was delivered within an acceptable time frame, you knew that it was actually being cooked, and not just nuked.
• Plating was wonderful, the eggs had the most inviting glisten. The home fries were plated in such a way that they were laying both skin side up and down, showing off all of their starchy goodness.
• The aroma that filled the air when the food was delivered was sensational. You knew you were in for a delicious meal, with the scents that tickled your nose. This was also true for just the entry of the establishment, which had the same enticing smells.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee. Don't bother. Have a coffee before you go, to save yourself from the mouth offence that is their offering. The taste of the coffee overshadowed the horrible mugs. The brims of which filled your mouth making it difficult to take a sip.
• The gentleman had an eggs benedict breakfast named the Popeye Benny. Popeye, for those unfamiliar, ate spinach to enlarge his muscles. So this benny included spinach with the regular order of two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, on ham and English muffins. The spinach leaves were hearty and perfectly cooked. I got exactly what I expected from an eggs benedict. A diversity of textures and flavours. The portions were perfect. I was satisfied after a benny and a half but continued enjoying until my plate was clear. Muscles were unfortunately unaffected.

• The lady's two egg with linguica (delicious substitute to have when Polish sausage is not available) was exactly what you would want for a two egg + meat special. The toast was noticeably rye with just the right amount of butter. The eggs were over easy (not a difficult feat) and the homefries were potatoes (nothing to write home about).

8. Value of product.

• The value of the product at Piccadilly's is worth the prices, however there was a coupon in the local penny saver (buy one breakfast get the 2nd 1/2 price) making this breakfast cost even better.
• Coffee is $1.95 per bottomless cup (you'll be tempted to stop after one)
• Side of bacon $2.95
• 2 eggs and choice of meat $5.95
• Muffins $1.95

9. Payment options.

• Cash
• Visa/ MC/ Amex

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Good: Food was flavourful, service was speedy, and price is right.

Bad: Parking is a nightmare and the coffee is reminiscent of what is served at a gas station in the middle of no where. The bathrooms were in need of a facelift (note; the men's room had three dining room chairs in the stall)

Overall: The Piccadilly Café & Deli 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.

Dined Monday, May 12th 2014

The Pancake Man

952 Route 28, South Yarmouth, MA 02664

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

• Adequate parking, and easy to arrive at from Route 28 or alternative back route

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

• Due to time of day (1pm) there was no wait. Waitress was friendly, though a tad on the trashy side.

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

• Wooden chairs throughout. Options for large parties. Feels like sitting on wooden chairs.
• Server seated us, so greeting came hand in hand. Coffee served promptly.

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

• Known for pancakes, there was a decent selection of pancakes in a plethora of different flavours.
• If one of your party is not a lover of pancakes, there are many alternative options.

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

• Fresh squeezed orange juice from hand cranked machine.
• Huevos Rancheros and breakfast nachos.
• Banana Bread french toast.
• Alcoholic beverages
• (None of the above tested)

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

• Food delivered surprisingly (possibly alarmingly) quickly.
• Pleasant scent from pancakes was noticeable
• Pancakes looked appealing, with icing sugar sprinkled about the plate.

7. TASTE!

• Coffee. Enh. Normal but not fantastic. Served hot and often. Not light, not bold.
• The gentleman's Maine Blueberry pancakes were served in the number of four. Stacked unevenly atop each other with blueberries spattered about the 6" diameter. They tasted like a regular damn pancake that could very well be home cooked from a box, or a freezer, and spattered with Maine blueberries.
• The lady's Apple Cinnamon Pancakes were chewy. There was a strong flour taste, and the apples had a flavour reminiscent of Chef Boyardee beef ravioli. The syrup was likely High Fructose Corn Syrup, however it was sugary and the consistency of normal syrup.

8. Value of product.

• High cost for what was received. Slightly higher (10%) than comparable food on Cape Cod.
• Coffee $2.35 per bottomless cup
• Side of bacon $3.95
• 2 eggs and choice of meat $8.29
• Muffins unavailable at this location.

9. Payment options.

• Cash
• Visa/MC/Amex

Overall Rating: 5/10

Good:

Variety of options. Parking. Speed of service. Alcohol.

Bad:

Sub par taste for items featured in name of restaurant. Coffee flavour fine at best.

Overall:

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.

Aaron Kimmel and Carissa Hayes