The Everyday Joe

Iron strengthens Iron in Poughkeepsie - Daily Planet, 1202 Route 55, Lagrangeville, NY

Just north of Poughkeepsie is a diner that was featured on the Food Network and Travel Channel.  They also have a location in Brewster, NY.  In fact, the entire Hudson Valley is filled with former culinary school students opening little restaurants and diners with their own take on dining. That makes keeping interest in your food a bit more daunting around there, especially if you are in the diner business.  

The Daily Planet American Diner in Lagrangeville - a suburb of Poughkeepsie, if such a thing exists - has risen to the challenge and has a menu filled with healthy, interesting, and tasty combinations that, in my opinion, exceed the offerings of it's more famous competitors in the region.

Pizza on Central Ave: EuroItalia Pizzeria, 2229 Central Park Ave, Yonkers NY

My wife is from the Bronx, and like most New Yorkers she is very particular about pizza.  I'm from the other coast, and have a much broader view of what pizza can be.  So when I give a recommendation to a pizza place and we both agree that it's awesome, it means that you've got two very different tastes agreeing on one great pizza.  And that pizza can be found at EuroItalia Pizzeria.

Italian in vast quantities: Sunshine Restaurant, 152 Route 202 (Lincolndale Plaza), Lincolndale NY

A couple of quick additions this morning to catch up.  First up, Sunshine Restaurant.

Tucked into a shopping center that looks like it would house a dentist, insurance office, and VFW hall, the Sunshine Restaurant is easy to miss.  But I was hungry and on the lookout, and am very, very glad it caught my eye.

Argentinean Hot Grilled Happiness: Ernesto's Grill, 3717 Crompond Rd. (Rte 202), Yorktown, NY

Just west of the Taconic Parkway is a building that looks like a an old dutch windmill.  It's blue.  Outside of that windmill is a big green sign for Ernesto's Grill, a new restaurant run by an old man with a great sandwich.

His menu is basic, and doesn't even include the awesome rice and beans he gave me a plate to try while I waited.  

Yia-Yia's Diner, 6124 Buffalo Ave. Niagara Falls, NY

They don't have a card, takeout menu, or an atmosphere  that says 'come in and enjoy a great meal here!'

They do have a chicken souvlaki breakfast that's really good, great service, and a big yellow sign that would be perfectly suited to advertising bingo, a sale at your local sporting supply store in upper MI, or used cars.

The service was good and the staff friendly enough to a stranger wandering in, something that I was certain didn't happen very often around there.  Oh, and they were cheap.  Really cheap.  Budget eaters need to find Yia-Yia's.

Floridian Diner Restaurant - 2301 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Yes, it's more breakfast.  Floridian did something I love, and my belts hate - gave me a mountain of food for a very low price.

Omelette was very, very good (heavy on the cheddar and sausage, big pile of potatoes, and fast service.  Like most NY diners, the want you fed, watered, and gone as fast as possible.

Al's Village Diner - 508 W. Manlius St., East Syracuse, NY

We only stopped by for a quick breakfast, and walked out wondering if we had enough work to do in the area to come back for lunch.  From a perfect omelette, a local specialty called the 'Fretta', to some great coffee, Al's crew fit the bill for a perfect breakfast on the road.

In case you are wondering how selective we are in what we put up here, let me just say for the record that after trying Al's, I visited three other places for breakfast that same week.

The Phoenician, 623 French Road, New Hartford, NY

Just across from Utica College, The Phoenician has a welcome sight for any traveler looking for a good meal or, if your timings is right, a high-quality lunch buffet. 

The spread featured a good selection of cold  and hot foods - falafel, stuffed grape leaves, salad, olives, feta, hummus, fresh tomatoes, yogurt sauce, 3 soups, rice pilaf, a spicy chicken in red sauce, three meats cooked kabob style - that filled two (ok, maybe three) plates nicely.  

But the real highlight of the meal was the iced tea, brewed with mint and cinnamon for a taste I'll be trying on my own at home.