Comfort Food Restaurants – Page 2

Anchor Bar

Since 1964, the home of the Original Buffalo Wings is the Anchor Bar in Buffalo NY.

You have seven hours to kill and you are 64 miles from Buffalo, what do you do? The answer is obvious, drive to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo NY. The Anchor Bar is the home of the Original Buffalo Wings. From their humble beginnings in 1964, Buffalo Wings can now be found in almost every corner of the World. We have Teressa Bellissimo and her son to thank for that.

One of my coworkers through down the challenge. He said since you travel to Rochester NY for business, why don’t you try the wings. Of course I had to research where Buffalo wings started. Then more importantly are they still in business. Discovering the Anchor Bar was the birth place of Buffalo wings, I made it my mission to visit the Anchor Bar and try the original wings.

Anchor Bar Original Wings — Anchor Bar Original Buffalo Wings

Contrary to popular belief, not all wings are created equal. What separates the Anchor Bar’s wings from other bars and restaurants, is you can immediately tell they make them in house. the chicken is not overly processed. I chose the original flavor boneless wings for my taste test. The chunks of breast meat was tender and juicy. They were deep fried to a golden brown. As you can see in the picture, the wings were generously coated with their sauce. There is just enough heat for those that like their wings spicy. As you would expect, they have a selection of sauces that range from mild, to Jerk BBQ, original, to extreme. I’m certain you can find the flavor and heat level you are looking for.

What keeps you coming back to a bar or restaurant, is good food enough? In the case of Anchor Bar they are lacking in customer service. If you don’t mind being ignored by the hostess and figuring out on your own how to place an order, then the Anchor Bar is for you. Walking in I was struck by the unique decor. As a motorcycle fan, I was mesmerized by the classic motorcycles they have mounted on the wall. License plates from all over the country cover the walls, plus pictures of famous guest. So there is a certain uniqueness that you can entertain yourself with while being ignored. I have had bad service before, but not from the entire staff. I would hate to see how they behave when they are busy.

The bottom line; If you are traveling through the Buffalo NY area I wouldn’t dissuade you from trying the Anchor Bar. For myself, I have been there, done that. If you have visited the Anchor Bar please share your comments.

Garryowen Irish Pub

Garryowen is a traditional Irish pub in Gettysburg, PA. Enter Garryowen hungry, leave satisfied.

Here’s the challenge: Close your eyes, picture what an Irish pub looks like, then walk into Garryowen. Look around and take in the atmosphere, I would argue with anyone that Garryowen is a traditional Irish pub. According to their website, Garryowen is reminiscent of Irish pubs back in the old country.

Garryowen bar 2 — Garryowen Bar Gettysburg PA

With what appears to be plenty of seating, you can expect to wait at least 15 minutes or more on any given night to be seated. This has a lot to say about the popularity of this establishment. Having dined in Garryowen on several occasions, they are well worth the wait. Once you are seated you can expect first class service.

Shepherd’s Pie, Bangers and Mash, and Fish and Chips are dishes you would expect to find on any Irish Pub’s menu. If this is what you are hungry for, Garryowen will not disappoint. As you are reading down the menu you will come across Ulster Fry. Traditionally Ulster Fry is served as breakfast in Ireland. Garryowen’s Ulster Fry is served with grilled Irish bacon, sausages, black and white pudding, fried egg, grilled tomato, and house-made soda bread. What I found unique about the meal is the black and white pudding. Here in the states, when you think about pudding, you think about a sweet dessert. In England, Scotland, and Ireland, puddings are predominantly savory. The black and white pudding served at Garryowen, is best described as a tasty sausage dish.

If you are not certain about Garryowen traditional Irish fare, then try their meatloaf. Their meatloaf is served with a Smokey Honey BBQ sauce. I say it is good to the last bite. I would also recommend their Reuben sandwich for lunch. I can’t say enough about the meals I have had at Garryowen.

There is no way I can talk about Garryowen without mentioning the selection of 120 + Irish whiskies, plus Ireland’s draft beers. They advertise the perfect pour of Guinness. I have to confess, I am not a fan of Guinness. But, they do have my favorite Danish beer on tap, Carlsberg.

Enter Garryowen hungry, leave satisfied. When I’m in the mood to eat out, Garryowen is at the top of my list of restaurants that immediately come to mind. What makes Garryowen a place that ends up on Road Warrior Dining; of course its the good ole fashion Irish food. Then again, the selection of 120 Irish whiskies helps.

O’Rorke’s

If you are driving through Gettysburg Pennsylvania and desire a hearty lunch, O’Rorke’s should be your destination. Fine dining no; Pub fare yes.

Dinning Experience

O’Rorke’s is more than a place to get a cold beer and a good meal. O’Rorke’s is a place where couples and families come to meet. I expected the place to be empty due to it being a chilly, rainy Saturday morning. I was surprised no sooner had I been seated that people started to flow in. I heard a woman tell the hostess, that she needed seating for seven. Her family was traveling from different parts of the area to meet for lunch. Shortly after they were seated a party of six bellied up to the bar. Just like with the party of seven, O’Rorke’s was a central location for them to meet. Within less than an hour of opening O’Rorke’s was busy. I can only imagine what it is like when tourist fill the streets.

ORORKES GUEST — Friends Gathering at O’Rorke’s

O’Rorke’s is your typical Irish Pub. From Boston to Los Angeles, when you stop in an Irish Pub you can expect the menu to have the standard fare; Bangers and Mash, Shepard’s Pie, Fish and Chips, and my favorite, a Reuben Sandwich. If you are looking for something that sets O’Rorke’s apart from other Irish Pubs, it has to be their house made chips. When you order Fish and Chips in most Irish Pubs, the fish is served with steak fries. O’Rorke’s chips are thicker then commercially produced potato chips. They have a satisfying texture and were salted just right. I’m not a fan of steak fries in general, so the chips actually enhanced the meal.

ORORKES RUEBEN 2. jpg — O’Rorke’s Reuben Sandwich

The Food

Prior to driving to O’Rorke’s, I had already looked at their menu online and I planned on ordering their Reuben sandwich. First of all, I love Reuben’s and secondly I wanted to compare their sandwich to their cross town rival, Garryowen. The Reuben sandwich at O’Rorke’s was to much for me to eat. I ended up taking half of the sandwich and chips home. The sandwich was comprised of a generous portion of corn beef, covered in sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and Swiss cheese. It was served with house made chips and corn fritters. The portion was large enough to fill a hearty appetite or have take out. Both Garryowen and O’Rorke’s Reuben sandwiches are worth drive. One sandwich is not better than the others. So, the next time I am hankering for a Reuben, I will have to toss a coin.

ORORKES Fish and Chips — O’Rorkes’s Fish Basket

Just like the first time I went to O’Rorke’s, I had a specific item on the menu I was looking for. In this case I wanted to try their Fish Basket. I saw on their menu, they make their Fish and Chips with Cod. Given I only eat Fish and Chips if they are prepared with Cod or Flounder, I knew I had to come back on a Friday and try their version of Fish and Chips. As with their Reuben, they did not disappoint. The fish was fried to perfection. The flavor was light, seasoned just right. If I don’t like a fish, I will hide the flavor with tartar sauce. No Tatar sauce required. Just as with the Reuben platter, the chips were cooked to perfection. No need for adding salt. If I was to suggest anything, I would reduce the amount of chips that comes with the Fish Basket.

Final Thoughts

O’Rorke’s is definitely a restaurant I will return to. I can’t say enough about about the food. If you are spending the day in Gettysburg, then O’Rorke’s should be your destination for good food.