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cookieclaygirl
Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 2289
Location: shippensburg
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 Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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yeah...what's up with that?
it seems so...1950s ... hehe.... |
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:34 am Post subject: |
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Well, looks like I stirred the pot quite a bit in here!
I do apologize for the tone, I was much too hard on everyone, especially 30 West...
Don't worry though, i'm pretty sure that local senior citizens don't read these forums so your clientele is safe.
So I think the food around here is boring; that doesn't give me any right to criticize what anyone else likes. I just think it would be beneficial to have more variety, and the only way I know of to make that happen is to be the first one to stand up to the "same-old-same-old" and criticize it a little.
I don't know; I consider food to be an important part of my life. I have to eat, I should enjoy it. Everyone should know how to cook, everyone should try a fancy meal once in a while. But who am I to say? Most cultures, even many here in America, take food seriously but not here... here it's like a meal is a chore, or something to get out of the way before dessert.
So don't take my online rants personally  Because, well, just between you and me... the reason I tease Franklin County so much is probably because I like it.
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.45chel
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 3093
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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I was wondering when you wer going to show back up!
Trouble maker!
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convoyducky
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Posts: 100
Location: Mercersburg
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:24 am Post subject: |
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trouble maker...maybe..
but without input like coppy's, won't we all just turn into non-objective dregs on the society that is ever-expanding and leaning towards conformity....
as evident in Pixar's latest great creation
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.45chel
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 3093
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:35 am Post subject: |
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*L*
Like Coppy needs an ego boost!
He knows I appreciate his commentary.
I've heard Wall E has received rave reviews...might bring Will Smith down a notch or too, since he says the 4th of July weekend is 'Big Willie Weekend' maybe if he does poorly he'll blame it on Scientology and stop being friends with Crazy Cruise...
We don't go to movies much, not because I find Hollywood disagreeable, but because I find the price of a trip to the movies for three people highly disagreeable.
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:21 am Post subject: |
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I didn't mean to upset you Koozie, but I feel like your "oh this is how it is, so let's just deal with it" attitude is kind of what is keeping Franklin County so repressed. Jobs here don't HAVE to be low paying. People don't HAVE to settle for what they always had, people don't HAVE to skip college for vo-tech or settle for quantity over quality.
Times are changing; everywhere... but it's been said, this area is resistant to change. It has a larger proportion of the elderly than most places and that attitude rubs off on everyone else... the attitude of 'this is what we have, so we might as well enjoy it.'
I don't have to enjoy it. And I don't; and neither do a lot of people. But what can I say? 30 West just went non-smoking and they've already got regular customer's pooh-poohing them... imagine if they changed their menu to something more contemporary? These local, family restaurants cater to the same crowd they did 20, 30, 40 maybe even 50 years ago in some cases.
But if you don't want Franklin County to die with the WWII generation, then you need to start embracing the younger members of our community... of which there are more and more. I just wish that our only choices weren't just a few more chain restaurants. |
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30west
Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Coppy wrote: | I didn't mean to upset you Koozie, but I feel like your "oh this is how it is, so let's just deal with it" attitude is kind of what is keeping Franklin County so repressed. Jobs here don't HAVE to be low paying. People don't HAVE to settle for what they always had, people don't HAVE to skip college for vo-tech or settle for quantity over quality.
Times are changing; everywhere... but it's been said, this area is resistant to change. It has a larger proportion of the elderly than most places and that attitude rubs off on everyone else... the attitude of 'this is what we have, so we might as well enjoy it.'
I don't have to enjoy it. And I don't; and neither do a lot of people. But what can I say? 30 West just went non-smoking and they've already got regular customer's pooh-poohing them... imagine if they changed their menu to something more contemporary? These local, family restaurants cater to the same crowd they did 20, 30, 40 maybe even 50 years ago in some cases.
But if you don't want Franklin County to die with the WWII generation, then you need to start embracing the younger members of our community... of which there are more and more. I just wish that our only choices weren't just a few more chain restaurants. |
Funny thing is all those regulars that said they were not going to come back, were back on Wednesday..lol. I have been trying to get the rest of the "Greeks" to take the plunge and accept credit cards. We have had our machine for about a year now and it was the best thing we could of done, bar none.
Went to Benny's in Fayetteville last week. Had great Italian food, and Great service. I was happily surprised. |
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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The credit card machine has been discussed here and I can honestly say for myself and most of the people I know around here in that 24-39 demographic are less likely to patronize a place that is cash only. It really is key to being a better business, but I suppose it all comes down to revenue... and also when you look at a "Greek" place around here that caters mainly to a crowd of regulars who probably only carry cash anyway, then why bother?
Well, this is why to bother: those 'regulars' will be gone someday and then there will be no new customers, because they're not trying to get any. Yeah, I see high school students going to these places (the food is cheap after all although you get what you pay for) but, if teenagers are even staying in Franklin County after graduating high school or coming back after college, I'm sure one of the countless chain restaurants will seem much more appealing... especially with alcohol service and a little disposable income.
Sounds to me like 30 West is actually trying to be more of a leader with this, rather than a whiner about new things. And it doesn't surprise me for one second that your smoking regulars are right back in the same place they always were... change is to be feared (and most places are going non-smoking anyway). But the smoking customers will probably be gone even sooner 
And yeah, Benny's Pizza Time is a great a little pizza place... however, I recently tried Taormina's; a bit out of the way in Fayetteville (just before Caledonia) but the food is excellent. The pizza was great, true New York style and a nice variety on the menu.
As for variety; there are exactly 20 independent pizza places in Chambersburg alone... most are very similar (while some are sickeningly awful; I won't mention any names, <cough>Edith's<cough>), some stand out a little more than others because they use fresh ingredients (Italian Village, Little Vince's, Vinnie's, Benny's to name a few) yet the "Best Pizza" 25 years in a row is still Pizza Hut.
Oh well 
I'm not sure there are many restaurants in Franklin County (or at least the Chambersburg/Greencastle area) that I haven't tried; there are certainly less than '500' places as someone pointed out, but there are a lot... and my biggest gripe is that they're all the same. I've certainly posted the half dozen or so that actually stand out to me. Unfortunately, being good doesn't always make them popular.
I do have a theory, and maybe you could shed some light on this 30 West; for one, I know that using local produce can set some of the Greek places apart (in a very good way), but as for menu similarities... aside from local tastes (or lack thereof) I feel like everyone gets their food from the same place: Johnnie's Restaurant Service. When you have "500" restaurants all getting their food from the same supplier, doesn't that all but defeat the purpose of having choices? Isn't that perhaps what is really differentiating the chains?
I realize, if this is the case, there may not be any other option for food supplies, but I do consider this to be a contributing factor (unless I'm way off). |
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30west
Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Coppy wrote: | The credit card machine has been discussed here and I can honestly say for myself and most of the people I know around here in that 24-39 demographic are less likely to patronize a place that is cash only. It really is key to being a better business, but I suppose it all comes down to revenue... and also when you look at a "Greek" place around here that caters mainly to a crowd of regulars who probably only carry cash anyway, then why bother?
Well, this is why to bother: those 'regulars' will be gone someday and then there will be no new customers, because they're not trying to get any. Yeah, I see high school students going to these places (the food is cheap after all although you get what you pay for) but, if teenagers are even staying in Franklin County after graduating high school or coming back after college, I'm sure one of the countless chain restaurants will seem much more appealing... especially with alcohol service and a little disposable income.
Sounds to me like 30 West is actually trying to be more of a leader with this, rather than a whiner about new things. And it doesn't surprise me for one second that your smoking regulars are right back in the same place they always were... change is to be feared (and most places are going non-smoking anyway). But the smoking customers will probably be gone even sooner
And yeah, Benny's Pizza Time is a great a little pizza place... however, I recently tried Taormina's; a bit out of the way in Fayetteville (just before Caledonia) but the food is excellent. The pizza was great, true New York style and a nice variety on the menu.
As for variety; there are exactly 20 independent pizza places in Chambersburg alone... most are very similar (while some are sickeningly awful; I won't mention any names, <cough>Edith's<cough>), some stand out a little more than others because they use fresh ingredients (Italian Village, Little Vince's, Vinnie's, Benny's to name a few) yet the "Best Pizza" 25 years in a row is still Pizza Hut.
Oh well
I'm not sure there are many restaurants in Franklin County (or at least the Chambersburg/Greencastle area) that I haven't tried; there are certainly less than '500' places as someone pointed out, but there are a lot... and my biggest gripe is that they're all the same. I've certainly posted the half dozen or so that actually stand out to me. Unfortunately, being good doesn't always make them popular.
I do have a theory, and maybe you could shed some light on this 30 West; for one, I know that using local produce can set some of the Greek places apart (in a very good way), but as for menu similarities... aside from local tastes (or lack thereof) I feel like everyone gets their food from the same place: Johnnie's Restaurant Service. When you have "500" restaurants all getting their food from the same supplier, doesn't that all but defeat the purpose of having choices? Isn't that perhaps what is really differentiating the chains?
I realize, if this is the case, there may not be any other option for food supplies, but I do consider this to be a contributing factor (unless I'm way off). |
Actually the truth is we do not get most of our supplies from Johnnies, only a small percentage. Our biggest supplier is Sysco Foods. Johnnies prices are higher than most food suppliers. I have tried in the past with different entries and sandwiches but they did not sell very much and it was not worth keeping it on the menu if you were selling a couple a week. For a diner i believe we have a great variety of entries from Seafood done in the broiler, a variety of fish from Haddock to Orange Roughy , Rainbow Trout, Cajun Catfish, Flounder,Scallops, Salmon Cakes and for the money you can't get better Crap Cakes, also the Stuffed Flounder with crab cake. We also have a great selection of steaks also done in the broiler, the New York strip steak and Delmonico and at times we run a Broiled Prime Rib that is my favorite! We make all other soups Homemade, not out of a can.
Other dinner entries include specials that we run. Beef tips over noodles,Swiss Steak, a grilled Chicken breast with mushrooms and cheese, Stuffed Chicken Breast, Slippery Pot Pies, Stuffed Peppers, Pork and Sour Kraut. Broasted Chicken, Half Roasted Chicken and so on and so on....lolol..
I felt like I was doing a commercial with this post.I am in the process of putting together and figuring out the costs and if it would be feasible to get a gyro machine. |
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.45chel
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 3093
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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Pssst.
edit your entry before someone quotes you.
Fourth Line, before the Flounder.
You don't want to be quoted like that. Trust me 
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onewhoknows
Joined: 29 Oct 2007
Posts: 68
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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I think we should all meet at 30 West for lunch 
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onewhoknows
Common sense is not so common |
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koozie
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 124
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Coppy wrote: | I didn't mean to upset you Koozie, but I feel like your "oh this is how it is, so let's just deal with it" attitude is kind of what is keeping Franklin County so repressed. Jobs here don't HAVE to be low paying. People don't HAVE to settle for what they always had, people don't HAVE to skip college for vo-tech or settle for quantity over quality.
Times are changing; everywhere... but it's been said, this area is resistant to change. It has a larger proportion of the elderly than most places and that attitude rubs off on everyone else... the attitude of 'this is what we have, so we might as well enjoy it.'
I don't have to enjoy it. And I don't; and neither do a lot of people. But what can I say? 30 West just went non-smoking and they've already got regular customer's pooh-poohing them... imagine if they changed their menu to something more contemporary? These local, family restaurants cater to the same crowd they did 20, 30, 40 maybe even 50 years ago in some cases.
But if you don't want Franklin County to die with the WWII generation, then you need to start embracing the younger members of our community... of which there are more and more. I just wish that our only choices weren't just a few more chain restaurants. |
You didn't upset me in the least Coppy. I was just pointing out the reasons for the way things are in Franklin County. I have lived here all my life and I was excited when all the new places starting opening. I enjoy trying new things but have nothing against the places that have been around this area for many years. I enjoy both. I'm not at all against change, but unfortunately for many in this area, change is not a good thing. The older generation still has their grip around here. |
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Laughing Man
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 497
Location: Earth
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:25 am Post subject: |
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but fortunatly, they're on their deathbeds. Its a waiting game and they've got a good century on me.
I want a good place where I can get curry. I haven't had it in months. Not since Philly. :(
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| onewhoknows wrote: | | I think we should all meet at 30 West for lunch |
If they get a gyro machine, I'm there....
Interesting 30 West should bring that up; all of the great, Mediterranean-style foods that I would associate as being "Greek" are unavailable from any local, "Greek" diner. There's plenty of salty, gravy-covered meals, but again... think of the clientele (and 30 West mentioned: they put a new sandwich on the menu, and it just doesn't sell). New, new, new = bad, bad, bad. And the people that WOULD try something new there probably stopped going a long time ago.
A catch-22 perhaps? A vicious cycle? I don't know.
Anyway, I would absolutely LOVE to have a real, authentic gyro. I just can't recreate that great, seasoned lamb at home... it's one of those things you have to get out but no one around here has them. Olympia serves some sort of "gryo-like" meat, but it's not that great shaved lamb you get from the authentic rotisserie. Besides, eating there is like eating in some strange old lady's living room and the service is practically non-existent. They should stick to sweets.
Mmm, tzatziki; Giant now sells thick, Greek-style yogurt in the organic aisle and it makes the absolutely best tzatziki. I like to make mine with a little dill and mint.
I've talked to several of my friends and they agree; gyro's would be great. I'm just not sure elderly, Chambersburg tastes are ready for them.
Laughing Man: there is a great, little Thai/Asian-style restaurant that opened in Hagerstown called "Red Curry." I'm not sure if I've mentioned it here before; it's right next to Crazy Horse (an establishment I will never patronize again) and the curry dishes are excellent. Highly recommended.
For Indian-style curry, I heard about a new restaurant in Harrisburg called Taj Palace that has a great buzz. Is Javid's in Carlisle still open?
BTW, I'm trying Durango in Hagerstown tonight; I've heard nothing but good things about it so hopefully I can bring back news of a good experience. Should have tried it sooner, but the last couple months have been a bit hectic. |
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cookieclaygirl
Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 2289
Location: shippensburg
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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javid's was open last i was there (month ago)
tasty.
red curry = yummmmm |
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