Friday, April 16, 2010

Another Best of Roadfood Restaurants - Anna Mae’s

Anna Mae’s Bakery and Restaurant is a roadfood gem amongst Ontario eateries. Located in Millbank Ontario, in the heart of Mennonite country.

Roadfood junkie say,” where the heck is Millbank"? What’s there, of interest? Well Millbank is west of Waterloo and St Jacobs in the County of Perth. About a 20 minute drive from St. Jacobs Farmers Market, through rolling hills and small villages like Heidelberg, St. Clements and Cross Hill. Blink twice and you will miss Millbank going in and going out.

It is a quaint rural hamlet that has all the influence of Mennonite life in the country. What makes Millbank standout is Anna Mae’s bakery and restaurant. This place was recommended to the roadfood junkie as well worth a drive, enjoy the scenic countryside and stop for some good eats.



I hate to get all bubbly and goo goo over a place but this restaurant deserves the best possible publicity, for excellence in the restaurant industry. Wish they had a cold draft beer but then they wouldn’t be able to hire the well mannered Mennonite waitresses who give excellent service and booze would only inflate prices. They do have a bakery and gift shop, in fact, gifts are part of the décor.



I will never again believe good food can’t be served at a reasonable family friendly price. Anna Mae’s serves the best food for the least. Serve good food at a good price and give good service and the people will come.
Service is excellent.



They have kind of a funny menu system; they do not have a long menu list but run daily specials. They are open six days a week (closed Sundays and holidays) from 7am to 8pm.

Breakfast special 2 eggs, ham, bacon or sausage, home fries, toast and jam...$3.75 bottomless coffee. $1.19 (good coffee).
Luncheon specials, sandwiches for $3.25. Burgers and fries $4.99. Fish and chips $7.25.

We started our meal with a bowl of Potato Leek soup. It was absolute creamy luxury in a bowl. I could live on this soup but then there are other excellent menu items and it would be impossible to have to fore-go further dining pleasures.



The chicken dinner was 3 pcs of golden, non greasy, and surprisingly tender in an irresistibly crispy crust.
Coleslaw in place of vegetables was some of the best and creamiest I have ever tasted. I couldn’t make up my mind on potato(being the roadfood junkie, that I am, I ordered both; the real mashed and fries) I couldn’t tell if the fries were frozen or fresh cut, they were of excellent quality and smothered in delish brown gravy. I was in that heavenly food zone of non-concentration; just pure enjoyment of the task at hand.



We had coffee/tea and pie to finish off this excellent meal. I had French rhubarb; the others had raspberry custard and a raisin pie. We were still in disbelief that slices of pie were included in the meal price. On return day, I had a slice of Chocolate Cream Pie and remembered to photograph it before devouring every crumb.



The girls commented....they ate too much, and the guys just waddled up to the cash register with smiles of contentment on their faces. Our total bill for 4 dinners including tax was $52 and there was enough take home chicken left over to have chicken salad sandwiches the next day.

They have takeout chicken. 12 pcs at $16.95 or a dinner special, 3 pcs chicken, mashed or fries, coleslaw or vegetable, a roll and beverage for 7.45. Move over Colonel, Anna Mae has arrived.

Soon as you enter the building the sights,sounds, and smell of fresh baked bread and you will know you made an excellent dining choice.



Can't miss the sign to great family dining.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Roadfood-junkie’s favorite Brantford Restaurant Sammys Rec Room

Sammy’s Rec Room, a favorite eatery of the roadfood-junkie in Brantford, Ont. home of Wayne Gretzky ,worlds greatest hockey player. I love the friendly com-padr’e right along with the good food, good service and reasonable prices. Sammy’s is a rustic sports bar but it is also quite family oriented. Kids enjoy free soda refills.

What really makes Sammy’s special besides the food, is the staff. When you walk through the door and get greeted with a cheerful "Hi Boys" you imagine yourself in the TV show, Cheers. Sammy’s wife (Merri) remembers your preference of drinks and will most likely have it sitting in front of you, within seconds of seating.

Sammy’s has been a huge success since opening day. Word of mouth advertising has been the key to success.

Visit Brantford,Ont. and take a tour of the Bell Homestead see exhibits of the Alexander Graham Bell’s homestead and where the invention of the telephone took place. Then a approximately two miles north Stop at Sammy’s for a bite and some of the best chicken wings out side of Buffalo.



All portions of food here are belly busters, perfect dining for seniors who like to take home a doggie bag. You will leave satisfied and full.
Of course, my all time favorite is their frosty 20oz mugs of Golden Horseshoe draft beer, only $3.70. Wednesday & Tuesday is Big Bloke days $7.99, a cold beer with a lb of chicken wings.They now have a Thursday steak special an excellent 8oz NY striploin for $10.95.

This is one place you can be sure that you will get value & good food with a smile.

Quote- Without a doubt the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with chicken wings.
--Dave Barry


The Big Bloke Special; chicken wings & draught beer. Buffalo Wings hot are my preferred style and they manage to sauce mine perfectly.(not hot enough to be rude) These are not little fryer wings, they are big and meaty. Throw in a side of fries for $.99 and you will have all you can eat. They have many styles of sauce to choose for the wings. Order suicide, if you prefer pain.



A huge slab of meaty ribs and some chicken wings.A good deal at $11.99. Ribs are fall off the bone tender. Don't know what sauce they use, but it sure is good. So moist and tender, all a big eater can devour.





Ribs & Wings, what a beautiful sight. This is the half order, quite a bargain at $11.99.
Mouth watering tender ribs, a few hot buffalo wings, fresh cut french fries and a cold draft of golden horseshoe beer. Doesn’t get much better than this, it is enough food for two roadfood junkies to share

If you have a real appetite for ribs; Saturday is the day for all you can eat ribs; a full rack of ribs and french fries for $14.95. It takes a pretty big eater to finish this platter of tender ribs. If you do manage to finish and still feel like more, they are available, but please - no doggy bags. Bigger than most full racks at other places. Priced at $10.99. They are fall off the bone tender and juicy,smothered in a finger licking smokey sauce.



Watching your waste line, have a hankering for lighter fare, try a chicken wrap.



Of course, if you are looking for a full count of cholesterol, try the Poutine. French fries smothered in gravy and cheese - artery clogging but good.



Or you could order one of these cloggers. A Cardiac Platter of wings, onion rings, fries and garlic bread w/cheese.



Fridays all you can eat fish and chips. One plate full is all most people can eat. They serve a huge portion of melt in the mouth Cod. I have never had to ask for more, that would be just plain cruel to my stomach.

It is for certain a Sammys hot dog will not fall in diet food category.



“Merri! Golden Horseshoe, for me and a Red Leaf for Alan"; as if we need to ask.



Sammy's happens to be one of my favorite places to visit with friends. It has that atmosphere that is hard to explain. But the food is without doubt a big draw. But so is the recognition and friendliness of the owners.

Here are a couple of lunch plates that you can compare to other eateries. At Sammy's you get value for your money.
This is a Half Rack of Ribs.

Sammy's,ribs,fries,barbecue

A steak wrap. Giant in size with a mountain of excellent fresh cut fries. For under $8.My Buddy said it was excellent.

steak,wraps,fries,Sammy's

Quote- "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Benjamin Franklin, (1706-1790).