The Galley Diner

The Galley Diner

11 P Street

South Boston, Ma 02127

The Galley Diner doesn't have a website. It just has a damn good breakfast! It is sp good, I feel it necessary to bust out of my blogging hiatus and write about it.

I have seen The Galley Diner many times in the 6 years I have lived in Southie, and I always say I am going to go in, but to be honest I forget about it when it comes to deciding on a breakfast place, and then late one night as I turned on the food channel, there it was!

No Reservation's Anthony Bourdain was standing in The Galley Diner telling me their corned beef hash and eggs was the best in town. I had to go, but then I forgot again. What is wrong with me?

The impetus to me finally visiting the diner I can only chalk up to a 10 mile run and telepathy. Saturday afternoon I decided I was going to do what I call the Southie Challenge. Run up and down every lettered street in Southie from the harbor to 1st street, starting at P and ending at my house. When I started down P, there it was again, The Galley Diner, I made mental note one more time, I had to go there, and I continued my run. Two days later on Columbus Day Lou woke up and said, "Let's check out The Galley Diner for breakfast!" It was meant to be.

If you are from out of town and looking for a real South Boston experience, you have go to this place. The diner is aptly named as the inside is about twice the length and width of a galley kitchen. There is a counter of about 10 seats and several 4 top tables. We were greated immediately as we walked in the door by what had to be the owners, Paul Skudris and Colleen Campbell. Everything about this place is family run and operated. There are two tvs going at the end of the counter for your morning news. Memorabilia from early classics such as the Three Stooges, Shirley Temple, and The Little Rascals adorn the walls, along with old pictures of Southie and retro ads.

Paul cooks your breakfast right in front of you behind the counter, so there is no guessing at what he is doing back there. Portions are big and food is delicious. I am a two eggs, toast, hashbrowns, and bacon kind of breakfast girl. I have gotten this in literally hundreds of breakfast places. A simple breakfast that you wouldn't think could vary too much from place to place, but at The Galley Diner, it tasted just a little bit better then all those other places.

Lou's comment was, "Now I know why Terry's ( our old breakfast place in Southie) closed!"

The coffee was great. The atmosphere was Southie through and through. Regular patrons lined the stools.

The prices were ridiculous for the city. We usually can't get breakfast for less than $20 these days. At The Galley Diner our breakfast was $16 with the tip! When we left we were told to come again. We most definitely will.

Looks like Lou and I will have to Trek a little bit further when it snows to get our traditional snow storm breakfast, (see earlier post)but this place is worth it!

Roscoe's in the House!

Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles

We went to the one in Long Beach but there are several throughout the LA area.

Atmosphere: Casual, Family

Menu: Soul Food

Kid Friendly: Absolutely

Lou and I just got back from L.A. visiting his brother's family. While we were there, we had the pleasure of returning to Roscoe's. Roscoe's specialty? The name says it all... Chicken and Waffles! Roscoe's has been serving up soul food since 1976 when it were founded by Herb Hudson, a Harlem native who relocated to the west coast. All it took was a few Motown celebrities visiting his restaurant to get the word of mouth going and the rest is history.

In recent years other establishments have tried to benefit off of Roscoe's good reputation, so be warned. If the sign says Rosscoe's with two ss', you aren't getting the original!

Since I first heard of Chicken and Waffles years ago in NYC, I wondered who thought to put them together in the first place? It is definitely not for the light eater. This is as hearty as it gets, so I tried to do a little research. What I found is there are a few theories out there, but no one really knows where this combo originated. What is known though are there are cookbooks in the 1880's where the recipe seems to first appear, and there are also references to a similar recipe in old Pennsylvania Dutch cooking.

Whatever the origin, in the last 100 years chicken and waffles has been embraced by the African American community as one of their staples in soul food. As one article I read put it, if you eat the chicken and then the waffle, you are eating a chicken and then a waffle. You've got to combine the two to have it be true chicken and waffles.

Roscoe's has a variety of meals on their menu which involve A LOT of food and fun names like The Stubby, The Oscar, and Lord Oscar. Most meals include chicken, two waffles, eggs, grits and a biscuit. Like I said A LOT of food. On our recent trip to Roscoe's, I wanted to taste as much as possible, but not necessarily eat as much as possible, so I immediately began negotiating with Lou on what we should order. Remember, my blog's name IS Burke's BUFFET. I like to try it all! He called me out though, knowing what I was up to. In the end, Chris, my brother-in-law pointed out I could order most items ala carte, so this is what I ended up with: 2 eggs scrambled, one waffle, and a fried breast of chicken. Lou got two fried chicken legs, a waffle, chicken sausage patties, and cheesy eggs!

The waffles are about 8 inch round and come with a giant pat of whipped butter and warm syrup on the side. One waffle is more than enough for the average person. I got regular scrambled eggs, not much to write home about there, but Lou's cheesy eggs, as he would say were "the truth" ( we think this is his new favorite slang) The cheesy eggs usually come with onions, but we ordered them without and they were creamy cheesy goodness.

Our fried chicken was just as good. It was moist, and the crunchy skin flavorful. My five year old nephew Karis, who was dead asleep when we got there, woke right up when his drumsticks arrived. I am sure Lou was thinking of stealing one, but thought better of it and ordered his own.

The service at Roscoe's is always welcoming. Wait staff remembered Chris even though with 3 boys, he rarely gets to visit these days.

My only regret with this place is I don't have a bigger stomach.

Big Apple Donut vs. The Paramount

Big Apple Donut Shop

Corner of Thorton and Broadway

Brooklyn, NY

vs.

The Paramount

44 Charles Street

Boston, Ma

If you haven't noticed by now, Lou and I like to eat breakfast out. Most people have a go to place for breakfast, but we try to get around and besides I am writing a food blog! I need variety to give all my wonderful readers choices, Right?

During the holiday there were two new places we went to breakfast. I was going to write about them separately, but then I started to think why not compare the two?

In the blue corner is The Paramount Beacon Hill, Boston, MA http://www.paramountboston.com/

In the red corner is The Big Apple Donut Shop Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY

http://bushwickbk.com/2009/03/16/get-what-you-pay-for-at-the-big-apple/

The Paramount is a well known place in Boston's Beacon Hill, a very posh neighborhood in the heart of Boston. We found this place for breakfast because it has a great reputation. It's won Best of Boston recognition for it's brunch, so we decided to bring my parents there during their visit.

The Big Apple Donut Shop we stumbled upon New Year's Day outside our friend's apt. in Brooklyn. We were on our way to McDonald's and realized it was after 11, and we couldn't get breakfast. We walked outside to find the Donut Shop across the street calling our name.

The Paramount serves it's brunch cafeteria style. You get into line, the menu is above the grills. All food is cooked to order, but it comes out very quickly. Nothing fancy on the menu, just typical brunch fare. Eggs your way, pancakes, french toast, toast, homefries, fresh fruit... Once you have your food, you seat yourself, or if you have a large party, someone has probably snagged a table while you order for them. Seating is tight, but there are about 30 seats at tables and lots of two tops!!! If you read my post on Terrie's you know I am a fan of the two top in small places.

The Donut shop is seat yourself and wait for a waitress. There is a long counter, and several two and four tops throughout. We sat at the counter. It took a long time for the waitress to take our order, but it was New Year's day and the sign said they serve breakfast until 11 and it was well past that, and they were still serving it, so I cut them some slack since it wasn't a typical day.

Both places were clean, but I would be lying if I said they were comparable.

The Paramount is all exposed brick and brushed metal tables and chairs. The lighting is beautiful. The neighborhood is swanky. There is little diversity.

The Donut Shop was old and probably could use an update, but you could tell it was run by a husband and wife team, and she was running around, ringing, taking orders, and ensuring this place was a clean as she could get it. The shop is located under an elevated train, and the area is dark. It isn't the most beautiful of areas, but it is an up and coming New York neighborhood, and a huge melting pot.

Two eggs with homefries, toast and bacon or sausage, and coffee at the Parmount is $8 minus the meat $6

Two eggs with homefries, toast and bacon or sausage and orange, juice coffee or tea at the Donut Shop was $5.95 , $3.95 without the meat.

At the Paramount, I got an omelet with feta, tomato and spinach. It was a nice size, came with homefries and toast. The homefries were a little under cooked for my taste. I don't think many restaurants get them right. The omelet was good, and Lou got fresh fruit which was very fresh (sans that green strawberry in the pic below!) and a nice addition.

At the Donut Shop I got two eggs scrambled with homefries and toast. The two eggs seemed more like 4 and the homefries had a crispy exterior just the way I like them.

At the end of this, I thought I would choose a winner, but have decided it all comes down to personal preference. Is it worth the extra $2 a person to sit in a posher place and eat the same food? True the service was slower at the Donut Shop, but The Paramount is self serve and I am still paying $2 extra. I guess you could argue, with tip, I am paying the same in the end, and besides these places aren't anywhere near each other, so it isn't like they are competing for your business!

I guess I thought it would interesting to compare them because breakfast everywhere is so similar, but these two places were clearly very different.

I think a lot of people would choose the atmosphere at the Paramount. Exposed brick, nice lighting, fancy tables, but for me, I think the Donut Shop was much more interesting. I found myself wondering about the lives of the people sitting around me, what they had done last night, what brought them here?, but, hey the service was slow, what else did I have to do to pass the time?

I will leave it up to you to decide, but on one final note, where can I get breakfast for $3.95 in Boston???

Our Breakfast Tradition, Terrie's Place

Lou and I have a tradition when it snows in Southie on the weekend. In the morning, before we dig out, we head up to Terrie's Place for breakfast. Usually it is still snowing, and barely anyone has dug out, so it can be a good workout. When I think back on all the times we have done this, it makes me think it must never snow during the week in Southie.

Terrie's Place is on East Broadway on the corner of K street. It is a small place with seating for about 40 people tops. There are several booths, a counter, and some free standing high tops available. The seating is seat yourself when it's open, and slightly more organized when it is busy. Since there isn't a lot of space to sit down, there really isn't a lot of space to stand and wait, so often when it starts to get busy in Terrie's you see the staff doing the ultimate shuffle routine to move people around so they are not in the way.

There is a girl in Terrie's who is always in there, and I am guessing she is Terrie. It is obvious she is in charge and she is always cheerful and quick to offer some hot chocolate or coffee when you come in from the cold. Sometimes I wish I could ask her what her end game is with this place.

As it is today, Terrie's has a nice breakfast. They have the typical two eggs, toast and hash browns, or the make your own omelet type dishes, but they also offer some unique dishes like Banana bread French toast, and eggs benedict done 10 different ways. This isn't 5 star dining, but it a neighborhood place. It is cheap, and it is consistent. It is also open for lunch, which I have never tried, but closes for dinner.

The only problem with Terrie's is I think it could be so much better. The location is prime, but the space needs to be used differently. The booths seem to be on their last leg, the curtains are old, and the set up is inefficient. This place is in major need of a makeover! I find myself sitting in there wondering why Terrie hasn't changed things. I know it can be financially draining, but there are small things she could do to fix this place up.

First of all the place needs a major detailed cleaning. Do this alone and it would look 10 times better. Service areas are clean, and I don't feel like the place is unsanitary to eat it in, but the baseboards could be scrubbed or a new coat of paint could be added to the walls to brighten it up. Those things don't take too much time or money.

If I was really going to overhaul Terrie's, I would rip out the booths and add two tops. I have said it before, and I will say it again. Small places need two tops!!!!!! You can move them around. You can fit all sizes of parties. Two tops optimize seating in small places! I would also get rid of the Odwalla fridge which is against one of the walls. I can't imagine that many people are coming into Terrie's for their Odwalla fix. If they still wanted to sell Odwalla, they could keep it in a cooler behind the counter. Most importantly though, I would spruce up the wait staff. The only nice person when you go into Terrie's is Terrie herself. Everyone else has the. "it's a job" mentality. It's not that the staff is rude, but they do seem to be going through the motions.

For a neighborhood breakfast place, Terrie's is the old standby. Each time it snows we will make our traditional trek, but I think I will always quietly hope Terrie realizes the potential of her place.