Tom Sawyer Diner
By floor9 on Jun 11, 2007 in Downtown
You know the place. Everyone either hates it or complains that the blogging community is out to persecute Ron. It’s out of place, it’s an eyesore, and … well, that’s about it. Nonetheless, if you want anything other than pizza or skewers to eat after hours, and aren’t up for the drive to CPD, it’s your only choice for late-night food. That being the case, April, Meghan, and myself decided to give it a shot this past Saturday.
Never assume that the restaurant’s interpretation of culinary standards is equal to your own. For example, antipasto changes wildly from town to town in Italy; one day you’re eating salad, twenty miles up the road and it’s a salami platter / pizza combo. Tapas, which really refers more to a family of dishes and not so much a single dish, is a completely different beast no matter where you go. In this case, Tom Sawyer Diner is the first restaurant I’ve encountered that prepares a reuben sandwich using a hamburger patty. Who knew?
But enough about culinary interpretations. Tom Sawyer Diner is also the first place where I’ve actually been given my check before my food. That struck me as a little backwards. Then again, given that they haven’t yet figured out the whole “stay open late and score the after-drinking crowd” thing, I’m not surprised.
More important than anything else was the quality of the food. I’m not sure what recipie Tom Sawyer Diner uses for their pancakes, but it apparently involves a lot of something dry and gritty (leftover sand from Hardware Bar?). Meghan’s salad was a bit bland and soggy. Everything potato — wedges and fries — was underseasoned. In fact, nothing was particularly good. Everything was on par with my previous visit, where Sara and I shared a sampler platter. We both agreed that “nondescript and expensive” was perhaps the best way to describe it.
So, it’s a dump. It’s not so much a diner as it is a bar that serves food. If you’re looking for after-hours food, have your designated drive you and your entourage up to Colonial Park Diner or even Camp Hill diner. Sheetz is even a more viable option. The old axiom about any food being good food after a night of drinking still rings true, but definintely not at Tom Sawyer Diner.
Despite our unpleasant late-night snack, Saturday remained one of the best nights out I’ve had in a long time. I think Epic is going to join Smalls as one of our regular haunts. Next week: Suba!
If you feel like driving across the river, there is a 24-hour diner halfway between Wormleysburg and Enola called the River View Diner. Last time I was there food was average at best but definitely better than what it sounded like at Tom Sawyer. They’re Greek so the menu is huge, and the prices are reasonable.
Amanda | Jun 11, 2007 | Reply
Mental note made. Is that the one just north of McDonald’s? Greek diners always have the best food, so I’ll see about making a trip next weekend.
floor9 | Jun 11, 2007 | Reply
That all sounds pretty bad. No surprise that I’ve never patronized that place before.
I probably would go into the astroturf section just to have a drink, but the opportunity just never presented itself yet.
Bone | Jun 12, 2007 | Reply
Pretzel dogs. In front of Perks & Bribes, weekends only. Yum.
The diner in Enola - I thought it was the Summerdale Diner (and I guess that makes it in Summerdale, incidentally). Did it change?
Sara | Jun 12, 2007 | Reply
There are two diners on the West Shore along the river . . . the River View Diner is just north of Wormleysburg . . . between the Your Place and a Car wash, I believe.
The Summerdale Diner is further up river, up past McDonalds, Tom’s and Advanced Auto Parts.
cogitobsw | Jun 12, 2007 | Reply
Sara: I completely forgot all about them. Good call.
The scattering of area diners is perhaps the single biggest justification for the light rail imaginable.
floor9 | Jun 12, 2007 | Reply