Red Hook Diner:
In the spirit of transparency I have to state that I have eaten in the Red Hook diner roughly 112 thousand times in my life. If I ever have a hear attack it may very well be traced to the heaps of their hash, piles of home fries and chicken coop's worth of eggs I have devoured in the place. Further more I just may have put one of the owners children through college on my own dime. With all that said I will attempt to open the humble CDO with a few words about our recent trip the the “historic” Red Hook diner. (RHD)
Kate and I are honest altruistic souls, and we really thought that taking my parents to the Red Hook Diner on a Saturday would be a nice thing to do. Despite the over-crowding, which is a problem with ever train car style diner out there, it was a good idea.
You see, the RHD is small. Yes it has an addition that adds just enough room for 2 more tables, 10 more chairs, 2 Barbie dolls and a raisin-et. And yes it has about 6 booths and I think 9 counter seats. On a Saturday those seating statistics are just not enough to satisfy the hordes of city folk who ooze northward into the valley and are just dying to eat a breakfast wrap in a quaint historic diner. The seating limitations at times mean long waits, but we were fortunate and got a seat in the aforementioned addition. I did get unusually close to the man sitting behind me, as in every time he moved his legs his chair whacked mine pretty solidly, and I got to smell his food. If you decide to go to the RHD, go during the week, its just easier that way.
The Food:
When I was young the joke around town went a bit like this, “The only thing historic about the Red hook Diner is the grease on the walls.” I think in retrospect that was not exactly fair, and it was something like 15 years ago. The food at the RHD is much improved from when I used to walk there for breakfast.
I had the same thing I always get, and have always gotten at the RHD. (2 eggs over medium, home fries, coffee, rye toast.) That my friends is my “go to” diner meal. I could eat that exact meal every morning for the rest of my life and die a happy, happy man from a massive coronary at the age of 50.
My eggs were perfect soft but with non-slimy yolks, home fries chunky style done very well, and a good solid glass of 8-o'clock coffee. The portion was generous and the plate was nicely warmed. Back in 1992 this exact plate of food was $2.00 now as listed on their web site menu it is a whopping $2.95. Thats a nice inflation beater. It's a traditional meal of mine and i loved it.
Kate had a Belgian waffle with blueberries ($4.25). This thing was killer. You see the RHD does not fake the blueberry funk. The Waffle arrived with a gratuitous heap of real blueberries on top. Yes if you are wondering real berries make a difference. A big difference. Beyond the simple goodness of berries, you get warm maple syrup brought to you. As if thats not good enough you can purchase the “Syrup upgrade” that turns your warm syrup into a little bottle of local produced Russel farms syrup. Now if you like syrup, like I like syrup (something akin to how sheiks feel about oil) then you will know good syrup is a golden experience. Kate's waffle became a gooey, berry coated, sponge of pure maple goodnesses. Fresh berries, quality syrup, warmed and brought to your table; I challenge you to tell me any thing better than that.
Over all I enjoyed the RHD. The food is better than I remember, and despite the Saturday Throng we carried on a good conversation over a good breakfast. It's a diner what more can you ask for?
Oh yeah did I mention the fresh berries?
