A restaurant that lives up to the name of Alexander the Great

Editor’s Note: Our columnist is not a trained or paid professional, nor does he get complimentary meals from the restaurants visited. He and his party arrive unannounced and do not reveal that they will be doing a review. Comments or questions may be sent to Sam Geati, greengeezer9@comcast.net.

This week, Judy and I were joined by Canary Lane neighbors Jerry and Joan, Steve and Diane, along with Ron and Diana, who live on Oakwood. We headed out to Alexander’s Restaurant in Elgin, just north of the I-90 on Rt. 31.

Alexander’s is my kind of restaurant, featuring a wide selection of entrees in addition to soups, salads, burgers, and other sandwiches. We made reservations for 6:15 and were immediately seated in a somewhat private section, which was conducive to conversation among eight people. Our server Liz was there to greet us and take beverage orders. She, by the way, was very efficient and attentive for the duration of our dinner. Our beverages came quickly along with delicious hot, crusty bread and butter. In addition to the eight or so specials of the day, we had a 4-page menu to peruse.

Each entree came with a choice of soup or salad. Those who chose one of the two soups, either French onion with mozzarella cheese or New England clam chowder, had the exact same comment: Wonderful! The salad takers said the ingredients were crisp and fresh.

The entree arrived soon after the first course, and each person was impressed with the presentation of their dish. The price range of the dishes we ordered began at $9.99 and peaked at $15.99. None of us left the table wanting for more, with some of us taking home a portion of our meal for another day.

Here’s the kicker: a slice of pie or cake for $1.00 when you order an entrée!!! And we’re talking an ample-sized portion of sweetness. The selection included about 12-15 choices that were written on a list and given to us by Liz, our server. We all agreed that the quality of the desserts was excellent, although the two people that ordered the Key Lime pie thought the topping was just a little too rich for their taste. Coming from my wife, Judy, I would say it had to be over-the-top to be too rich for her.

Here’s what each person had to say about their dining experience at Alexander’s:

Diane (Two thick broiled pork chops at $14.99) – “Good flavor and nice presentation. I was pleasantly surprised because I didn’t expect something this good. Our server was very accommodating.”

Steve (Filet medallions of beef with mushroom wine sauce at $14.99) – “My filet medallions tasted like they came off a charcoal grill, delicious. French onion soup was not just a big crouton and cheese, very nice flavor. Our server paid attention to us even though she was busy. I give Alexander’s a 4.5 out 5.

Joan (Corned Beef and cabbage at $12.99) – “Service – great! Food – delicious! Potato pancakes were more like grilled hashbrowns.”

Jerry (All you could eat Perch @$9.99) – “Very tasty fish and potato pancakes. Chowder was excellent! Great dessert for a buck!”

Diana (All you could eat Perch at $9.99) – “The perch was delicious and crispy. Service was great and so was the Key Lime pie.”

Ron (Beef liver and onions at $8.99) – My dish included carrots and baked potato, and the liver was delicious, tender, and tasty. Plenty of good food and excellent service.”

Judy (Salmon Greek-style at $15.99) – “This was one of the best tasting salmon dishes I’ve had because of the feta cheese, tomatoes, and being spiced just right for me. I couldn’t finish all of it, so I will have some for lunch tomorrow.”

Sammy (Deep Fried Haddock at $10.99) – “I prefer thick, meaty fish, so this was right in my wheel house. There were 3 good-sized pieces, so I took one piece home along with half the potato pancakes. The dish also came with fresh carrots. I finished off the meal with a large slice of Boston Cream Pie for a dollar. What a deal!”

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