I'm playing catch up on reviews…read more
I've been to a lot of places the last few months, checked in so I can review it, but I'm on the road so often that it's hard to get the reviews written. I have a long back log I need to catch up on and I still have reviews from my cross country trip to Oregon that I still need to write, and that was back in December! I'm trying...
A few months ago, I found myself out on Lott Road, and decided to scratch a long overdue itch by visiting Highway 217 Cafe and Grill. I've heard pretty great things about this local gem. Now, anyone who knows me, knows I have a wicked soft spot for local owned business. In fact, I tend to gravitate toward local businesses over corporate owned chains. I stepped inside the dimly lit building where elderly couples and workers on their lunch breaks congregated with a warm and sincere welcome from the young ladies working there. This is what I love most about local business, is that honest interaction and sense of pride and community these kinds of places have. It just makes you feel like they want to earn your business, and care about your experience there.
I was told I could sit wherever I chose and they brought the menu, and while there was a lot to choose from, I wanted to keep it simple, and went with a bacon cheeseburger, medium rare. I guess I tend to default back to my "Rik's Burger Review" days when I get the chance, and since it's where my review experience really began, it always feels nice to go back to the basics. I ordered onion rings instead of fries as I was in the mood for them, and I like them a little bit more.
They brought the burger and it had the fries with it, and the girl realized immediately that the kitchen had made an error. She told me I could keep the fries and she would have my onion rings out shortly. A few minutes later, this side of fantastic onion rings showed up, and they were nothing short of amazing!
The onion rings were appropriately crispy, and the breading had quite a zing, which was pleasant tasting. The onion inside was firm, hot and not soggy in the slightest. The burger was perfectly cooked as requested, the meat was seasoned well, it was juicy and succulent, the bacon was very crispy but not burned, and the cheese was bubbly melted to the burger. This was nothing short of a perfect meal!
Also, they took the onion rings off my check because they were late getting them to me. I left full, happy and swore I would go back again. It's a bit out of the way from where I live. But if I'm out that way, I'll definitely be back.