Brookside Family Restaurant

(menu)

The morning of the 4th of July I was looking forward to heading down to High Street, getting a coffee at Grumpy's and watching the parade.  I was up early, though, and I needed to eat breakfast soon. I called around to a couple places and found that Brookside Family Restaurant was one of the few places open.  So off we went to stop number three on the whirlwind tour of Pottstown food.

An initial confession: I'm not a great fan of the breakfast buffet, although it is always tempting.  I just can't avoid eating plates and plates full of breakfast meat when it is sitting out there in a giant vat calling my name.  So, as a rule, I avoid the buffet. There were a number of people appearing to enjoy it though, so Saturday and Sunday, go give it a shot.

Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted with a smile and seated immediately.  The decor is nothing special.  It's a typical modern day diner like O'Grady's or Denny's.

I ordered coffee and water to drink.  The coffee wasn't great, but drinkable.  Coming from me that doesn't mean much; when it comes to coffee, I'll drink just about anything that's dark and wet.

I ordered something not on the menu, a veggie omelet.  The waitress didn't hesitate and just asked if I wanted cheese.  None for me, thank you.  I asked for my homefries well done, no toast.  Steve, my most of the time partner in food adventures, ordered the special cheesesteak omelet with hashbrowns and wheat toast.

My homefries came out perfectly.  Nice and crispy, just how I like them.  The omelet was oddly light in color, but had peppers, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms.  The veggies were incorporated into the egg and not folded inside.  Not sure I'm partial to one way over the other, but I believe it;s worth mentioning.  The omelet was ok.  It didn't have a ton of flavor or character.  I got what I ordered.

Steve also got what he ordered although I don't think he completely realized what he was ordering. Have you ever seen an omelet with red sauce?  I've seen red sauce on a cheesesteak, the inspiration for this breakfast special, but never on an omelet.  My initial thought is that the waitress should have asked, "sauce, onions?"

It is what it is though.  Can't be afraid of trying something new.  I thought the omelet didn't taste half bad.  The sauce wasn't too sweet and the texture was a bit like eggplant parmesan.  I'd be tempted to order it next time.

Unfortunately the hashbrowns were almost raw except on the bottom which is apparently where they made contact with the grill.

I was only able to get a printed copy of the dinner menu, they didn't have the breakfast menu printed.  It was a very standard breakfast menu with all the usual suspects and they were able to accommodate me ordering something off-menu.  Don't forget the buffet either.  If you have some glutinous teenage boys to feed or a hangover you're trying to bury in breakfast meats, this is your place.  They have pie too!